KARACHI : Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Justice (Rtd) Maqbool Baqar presiding over a meeting said that he is working on a plan to improve the lifestyle of the people living at old and dilapidated Martin, Clayton and Jahangir Quarters by providing them best residence in beautifully constructed towers.
“Our purpose is to launch the Urban Rejuvenation Project under which the people living in old quarters would not be displaced but to construct towers in the empty spaces at Martin, Clayton and Jahangir quarter premises,” he said and added that therefore, empty plots or spaces were being identified for construction of residential and commercial towers to improve the overall look of the area.
The meeting was attended by Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab, Chairman P&D Shakil Mangnejo, Secretary Local Government Manzoor Shaikh, Commissioner Karachi Saleem Rajput, Secretary Transport Asad Zamin, DG KDA Tahir Sangi and others.
Mr Mangejo briefing the chief minister said that Martin, Clayton and Jahangir Quarters had been established on an area of 240 acres of land in districts of East and Central of the city. He said that the land was owned by the federal government.
At this, Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab said that the katchi abadies around those quarters were owned by KMC. “I think the land belongs to KMC on which the federal government had constructed these quarters,” he said.
It was pointed out that after the shifting of the capital in 1958 no proper maintenance has been carried out by the federal government. The federal government employees allotted these quarters did not vacate them on their retirement and the next generations encroached on the open spaces around their quarters/houses.
Shakil Manejo told the CM that their initial survey showed that Martin and Jail road quarters have 81 acres of land, Clayton and Jahangir 68 acres, Jahangir Road (West) and Pakistan Quarters at Nishtar Road 32.13 acres.
Pakistan quarters: There are 390 plots spreading over an area of Pakistan quarters.
The CM said that the project he wanted for the residents of these quarters to replace old, unsafe quarters with modern towers, apart from improving public spaces and infrastructures. At this chairman P&D Shakil Mangejo told the CM that Fikirtepe was a densely populated but rundown residential area in Istanbul. The project was launched in 2012 and is expected to be completed in 2023. He suggested studying the model and if approved by the chair would be adopted in the city.
The CM directed the P&D Dept to study the aspects of urban planning strategies such as inclusive planning, infrastructure upgrades, affordability, mixed-use development, green building practices, cultural preservation, public transport accessibility, safety measures and waste management.
The chief minister told the meeting that he would talk to the federal government to solve the land ownership issues, meanwhile, the P&D Dept and KMC to develop a plan to launch the project. “We can launch the project on PPP mode but other options may also be considered,” he said.