eporterMayor Karachi Barrister MurtazaWahab has said that the land of Baldia Town Cottage Industries is the asset of the citizens, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto had announced to establishment of Cottage Industries here in 1993-94 for the citizens of Karachi. There are clear orders of the court to give possession of the plots to the allottees and KMC is ready for it. He said this while presiding over a high-level meeting regarding Cottage Industries Baldia Town in his office on Monday.
On this occasion, Municipal Commissioner Syed AfzalZaidi, Parliamentary Leader in City Council NajmiAlam, Mayor Karachi Representative for Political Affairs KaramullahWaqasi, heads of relevant departments of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and other officers were also present. Barrister Wahab said that Cottage Industries Baldia Town has an area of 348 acres in which 3946 plots were allotted to the citizens, 128 of them were allotted to the allottees through balloting as commercial plots.
The acquired land will be returned to them so that they can start their business, the possession of sectors A, B and C will be given to the allottees immediately while the sectors of cottage industries which are illegally occupied by some people will be vacated, he said. The Mayor Karachi said that the purpose under which the cottage industry was established in Baldia Town should be fulfilled, even after a long time, small industries could not be established there due to the non-occupation of the allottees.
Now we want the factories to be established as soon as possible and employment opportunities available to people, he said. During the meeting, the relevant officers of the Department of Land, Anti-Encroachment and Orangi Town Project of the KMC gave a briefing to Mayor Karachi regarding the cottage industry and informed him about the measures taken in this regard in different periods. Barrister MurtazaWahab directed that there is no room for further delay in this work, therefore, it has to be done at a fast pace to improve the city and it has to be seen that the project which was started by KMC in the larger interest of the city has reached at what stage and why it has not been completed. He said that allottees of Baldia Town Cottage Industry have the right to get their plot and this right will be given to them. There is an urgent need to promote industrial and commercial activities in the city.
Mayor Karachi Barrister MurtazaWahab has said that the KMC has started a fumigation campaign to eliminate flies, mosquitoes and other germs in order to protect citizens from malaria, dengue and other epidemic diseases. He said this after inaugurating the fumigation campaign under the Municipal Services Department at the head office of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation on Monday.
He said that as many as 30 vehicles will go for spraying in all seven districts, and especially in low-lying areas and near rivers, where there is a possibility of mosquito breeding, spraying will be done. Evening time has been fixed for spray during which disinfectant spray will be done in all UCs, he added. Parliamentary Leader in city council NajmiAlam, Mayor Karachi Representative for Political Affairs KaramullahWaqasi, Senior Director Municipal Services Anwar Baloch and other officers were also present on this occasion. MurtazaWahab said that on the first day, spraying is being done in the district East, while spraying will be done in various areas of Central District on Tuesday, October 4. West District, Korangi District on October 5, Malir District on October 6, South District on October 7 and Kemari District on October 9 will be sprayed.
He said that contact has been made with the administration of the concerned district and town for the spray campaign and every effort is being made to ensure that no place is deprived of the spray. The concerned inspector will obtain a certificate of completion of the spraying campaign from the District. He said that providing protection to the citizens from epidemics is the main responsibility of the local bodies, KMC is fulfilling its responsibilities in this regard, the citizens are requested to cooperate with the KMC staff during the spray campaign and inform immediately if any area has not been sprayed so that a team can be sent there for spray.
