THIS refers to the letter ‘Taiser Town scheme’ (March 11). I am one of the not-so-lucky allottees who got a plot of land in Taiser Town Phase II. The draw was held in October 2006. More than 20 years have passed, but no development work has been undertaken. And yet, the people of Karachi are being trapped in another hoax of Taiser Town Phase III.
This is not the first time I have suffered at the hands of the Malir Development Authority (MDA). Back in 1998, I and my colleagues at Pakistan Steel had booked apartments in the MDA Economy Flats scheme on the National Highway. The scheme got stuck due to a dispute between the MDA and the House Building Finance Company (HBFC) over project financing. Needless to say, the allottees had to suffer.
Now, after 24 years, I recently received a letter from MDA deputy director, informing us that the disputed project is being revived on the directives of the local government department, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), and other relevant authorities. Those interested in retaining their allotment shall pay the balance amount as per the current revised cost, while those not interested will be refunded the deposited amount.
Interestingly, the current revised cost is not mentioned and the schedule of completion is not indicated. In any case, the deposited amount should be returned along with the profit earned by MDA over about a quarter of a century.
The NAB should take a comprehensive look into the affairs of the MDA, including those linked with Taiser Town.
Malik ul Quddoos
Karachi
WAITING FOR JUSTICE: I am one of the many middle-class people who happen to be small-time investors looking to get the ‘handsome’ yield that is promised by many. And, like many, I have been deprived of my investment by a fraudster who once happened to be walking the corridors of power. For the last many years, I have been writing to various authorities, such as the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), to attract their attention, but to no avail. I wonder if ever someone is going to take up the matter.
Ashfak Ahmed Siyal
Karachi
UNETHICAL PRACTICE: Whenever I visit Lahore, I use a ride-hailing service for a smooth commute. My recent trip cost me Rs150. I gave the ‘captain’ Rs200 and asked him to return the change.
He said he was not carrying any money and would deposit the balance amount in my account which can be used later. On my next trip, I tried to use the ‘deposited’ money but failed because it was
never deposited by the ‘captain’ concerned. He actually duped me and did not deposit any money in my account.
Muhammad Fayyaz Nawrha
Mianwali
FOOD WASTAGE: Wastage of food is a major issue in society. Many have heaps of leftovers thatgo waste and many others don’t have enough food to keep their families properly fed. In social gatherings and restaurants, people fill their plates beyond their capacity to consume, and then discard the leftover without a thought. This is not socially responsible behaviour.
Marai Khushk
Hyderabad
NOISE POLLUTION: Pressure horns and the removal of silencers have made the lives of the residents of Hub miserable. The ever-increasing number of private vehicles adds to the misery and causes irritation, sleep disturbance, hypertension, blood pressure complications and headache. Also, the students struggle to focus on their studies. Any remedy?
Ahsanullah Mengal
Hub
Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2022