KARACHI, Jan 18: A high-level meeting was held here on Friday under the chairmanship of Manzoor Hussain Bhutto, senior member of the Board of Revenue, Sindh, to review the process of regularization of Kutchi Abadis (slums) in the province in light of the directives issued by the Chief Executive of Pakistan.

The meeting discussed the matters pertaining to awarding ownership rights to the residents of the slums as any clear policy did not exist. It was decided to approach the concerned departments for seeking no-objection certificates for the regularization of the slums which existed before 1985 so that the impediments could be removed and the work expedited.

The Pakistan Railways, the (defunct) Karachi Development Authority and the Board of Revenue will jointly examine the impediments.

The Pakistan Railways, Cantonment Boards, the Malir Development Authority (defunct) and other departments were asked to furnish survey reports on the Kutchi Abadis without further delay as last date (Dec 31, 2001) for furnishing of the reports had expired.

About shifting of residents of the slums, established till February 28, 2001, the meeting was informed by the Board of Revenue that work was in progress with the assistance of the respective town and city administrations.

The Director General, Kutchi Abadis Authorities, Tasnim Siddiqui, said 244 Kutchi Abadis existed on land belonging to the Board of Revenue, 79 on Pakistan Railways’ land and about eight to ten Kutchi Abadis existed on land belonging to other provincial and federal departments.—PPI