KARACHI: Cabinet held under chairmanship of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah here decided to construct 6,500 housing units over an area of 248 acres to resettle affectees of three nullahs in Malir Development Authority area. “Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto has categorically directed his provincial government to resettle affected people of three main nullahs-Gujjar, Mahmoodabad and Orangi,” Murad Ali Shah said he already allocated Rs 1 billion for development of 248 acres MDA has handed over to local government. Meeting was held at CM House and was attended by provincial ministers, advisors, special assistants, Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput and others.

Minister Local Government Syed Nasir Shah presented two proposals saying that affected people of three nullahs may either be given properly developed 80 square yards plots and substantial amount to construct their houses or their houses may be constructed by local government department.

Nasir Shah said that land measuring 248 acres has already been handed over to Local Government department by MDA and amount of Rs 1 billion approved by Chief Minister was with local government for development. He added that his department was ready to develop plots and hand them over to affected people or construct houses.

Minister Information Sharjeel Memon said that handing over plots to affected people would start real estate business activities in areas, therefore houses should be constructed through experienced and well-reputed firms to provide them with respectable accommodation.

CM directed his Advisor Law Murtaza Wahab and Advocate General to approach supreme court and get money of Bahria Town deposited there so that work could be expedited, meanwhile, local government department must start development of project by providing them with utility services.

Minister Revenue Makhdoom Mahboobzaman told Cabinet that houses that collapsed in recent heavy rains and floods were constructed on government land. He added that Board of Revenue on Chief Minister’s directives carried out an exercise and found that land of collapsed houses could be regularised under Gothabad Scheme, Gothabad Housing programme, regularisation of village programme and Katchiabadi Act.

CM said that SIA has been proposed for ranks from ASI to AIG. He added that precedent of allowance was available in other interrogating agencies such as NAB and ACE-Sindh.

Cabinet approved grant of Special Investigation Allowance at one initial pay scale of 2022 to Investigation officers. Its financial impact would be around Rs 442.471 million.

Published in The Daily National Courier, May, 26 2023

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