KARACHI, Nov 15: The city government has initiated development work in Scheme-33, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, of the defunct KDA which would be completed under a phased programme.
The Nazim of Karachi, Naimatullah Khan, laid the foundation stone of the Rs30 million development schemes pertaining to the laying of sewerage lines and construction of roads.
On the occasion, the Nazim was briefed about the causes that had prevented start of work on this scheme. He acknowledged that development work in this scheme was pending for the last 22 years. It was launched in 1980 but the owners of plots did not clear their dues promptly which resulted in the delay, he was told by the relevant officials.
They informed the Nazim that there were 30 societies associated with the scheme whereas the KDA had been keeping plots in commercial areas.
After laying the foundation stone at Madaris Chowk, the Nazim inaugurated work on laying of sewerage line.
He regretted the inconvenience caused to the allottees of the Scheme-33 due to the lapse of more than two decades in starting development work.
Naimatullah Khan held out the assurance that the city government would take special measures for the development of the scheme. He pointed out that a sum of Rs30 million had been made available to initiate the development work while more funds would eventually be provided during the current fiscal and released after the approval of tenders.
The Nazim directed the concerned officials to undertake planning for the construction of a road connecting Scheme-33, Baldia Town and airport for which funds would be made available.
He emphasised the need for measures to persuade population move to the scheme area. He also stressed on restoration of people’s faith in the concerned organizations.
Highlighting the city government’s efforts to carry out development activities in real sense for the betterment of the masses, the Nazim issued directives for the completion of sewerage and road construction work within the current financial year.
Expressing his reservations over the laying of sewerage lines in pieces, he called for inviting fresh tenders for the laying of new sewerage lines in the areas where the pipelines were non-existent.
The Nazim listed the measures aimed at making Scheme-33 a model housing project and said that results would start appearing soon.
Gulshan Town’s Nazim, Abdul Wahab, Naib Nazim, Saleem Athar, councillors and other officials were present on the occasion.
Syed Mazhar Jaleel, the Secretary of Gulzar-i-Hijri Cooperative Housing Societies, highly appreciated the city government’s active role in the early completion of the development work in the scheme.
In his statement, he pointed out that Scheme-33 was once the largest housing scheme in Asia. With the completion of development work, he added, thousands of allottees would be able to build their houses.
He urged the city government to provide one-window facility to the allottees for the redressal of their problems related to house construction.
GULSHAN PROJECT: The City Nazim, Naimatullah Khan, inaugurated work on 48-inch dia sewerage line and a 4,500-ft road in Union Council No. 12 of Gulshan-i-Iqbal Town, a city government statement issued here on Friday said.
According to the statement, the 1.46km sewerage line will be completed at a cost of Rs17.7 million whereas the estimated cost of the double road leading to Super Highway is Rs12.8 million. The project would be completed in one year, it added.
Gulshan-i-Iqbal Town’s Nazim, Abdul Wahab, Naib Nazim Saleem Azhar, Nazim of the UC, Ibrahim Gabol, Naib Nazim, Mohammad Ahsen and the EDO, Javed Hanif, were present at the inauguration ceremony.— APP