Director General of Karachi Development Authority (KDA) Syed Mohammad Ali Shah said that illegal occupation and encroachment on government land will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
Strong action will be taken against the encroachment mafia and land grabbers. Government land has been vacated from encroachment on a large scale in different areas of the city. He expressed these views on the occasion of his visit to the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI). President Faraz-ur-Rehman, Deputy Patron-in-Chief Zubair Chhaya, Senior Vice President Nighat Awan, Standing Committee Chairman Johar Qandhari, Former Presidents Saleem-uz-Zaman, Danish Khan, Masood Naqi, Syed Farrukh Mazhar, Rafiq Khoro, Kashif Khan, Nadeem Iqbal, Muhammad Qasim, Muhammad Rafiq Khan, Muhammad Arshad and others were present. The DG further said that development works have been started in the city. We are implementing a zero-tolerance policy against encroachment.
Syed Muhammad Ali Shah said that the land record is also being computerized. In the past, builders used to violate the rules and carry out construction work and later get stay from the court, but now this trend has ended. Other issues including commercial allotment, and NOC are being resolved, pending permits are also being tried to be processed quickly. He said that steps are being taken to eliminate corruption in the institution. Earlier, KATI President Faraz-ur-Rehman said that a new survey of the city is immediately needed to know the problems of Karachi and solve them. To prevent land-grabbing incidents, control land mafia and provide a peaceful environment to law-abiding citizens, the government should correct all land records and recognize ownership of land. Builders, developers and common citizens are facing serious consequences due to a lack of accurate and computerized land records. All the regulatory authorities should take strict measures to stop illegal constructions and give prompt approval for legal constructions.
President KATI said that a helpline should be established for solving civil problems, due to which people will get full acceptance and people will be able to get timely information. Faraz-ur-Rehman said that the representatives of KATI should also be included in the governing body of KDA.
Patron-in-Chief Zubair Chhaya said that Karachi city consists of a 55 percent slum population. Slums are also proving to be a threat to the peace and order situation. Slums have become hotbeds of drug dealers, street criminals and other vices. There is a working relationship committee between Korangi Association and KDA that needs to be activated. Federal and provincial governments should provide continuous resources for the development of Karachi.
Standing Committee Chairman Johar Qandhari said that there was a time when Karachi was called the city of lights. It would not be out of place to say that for the last 40 years, Karachi has spent and received nothing in return, including basic amenities.
