KARACHI, Aug 30: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan has called for early rehabilitation of 0.7 million plots in 54 sectors of Gulzar-i-Hijri (Scheme-33). In this regard, a high-level committee was also constituted, headed by DCO Karachi , to remove encroachments on 14,000 acres and recover dues amounting to Rs 5.38 billion against the allotted plots.

In a meeting held under the chairmanship of Sindh governor, it was informed that an estimated 2.2 million people live in Scheme-33 which was announced by the KDA in 1967 and by the Board of Revenue in 1977.

On May 18, 1980, the then governor had directed that the scheme be completed in five years. The development charges were recovered between 1980 and 1991 and the land was allotted to 1,376 cooperative societies.

However, internal development works could not be completed because of encroachments on 14,000 acres by the land mafia. The meeting decided that the Board of Revenue will transfer land to the CDGK as per laid down terms and if dues remain outstanding, the same will be recovered by the BOR on behalf of the City Government.

It was decided that the EDO Revenue, City Government would be appointed as project director of the whole plan. The committee set up under the DCO will comprise EDOs of water board, works and services, finance and planning besides representatives of societies.

The project director will be the member/secretary of the committee. It was decided that the City Nazim would talk to the cooperative societies and get the work of internal development done and also recover the dues.

Another committee, headed by additional chief secretary development, will supervise the whole project. Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan made it clear that the government was taking steps for revival of all pending projects of housing and industries and emphasis is being laid on removal of bottlenecks in the way. He directed that the land be freed from encroachments and brought into use for specified purposes so that no problem recurs. -APP