In early 90s, the Government of Sindh, on the pressure of a group of people belonging to the rural areas of Karachi, divided KDA into three development authorities, as in their opinion KDA was destroying villages (goths) and grabbing goths land. Consequently, Lyari and Malir Development Authorities, were created.
But these political elements are now expressing great concern and also regrets, as goths land are now taken over and included in big housing projects on Super Highway.
In the SLGO 2000, there was no provision for dissolution of development authorities. So the government of Sindh promulgated the Sindh Repeal of Development Authorities Order Ordinance 2002 to dissolve the Development Authorities in Sindh including KDA.
In other 3 provinces development authorities continued working.
One of the basic reasons for non-development/non-availability of the required infrastructure, is missing KDA.
70/80 percent of Karachi was developed by KDA from its own resources.
Announcement of a huge Karachi Transformation Plan, is an appreciating move of the Federal Government. Projects under the plan are to be completed within three years.
Who will be responsible for funding of the projects after three years?
Another important question is: which Organisation/agency will handle execution of the infrastructure development projects under Karachi Transformation Plan?
It is very much necessary to restore/revive KDA in its original position with return of the Master Plan Department and its sub-ordinate offices including Karachi Building Control Authority.
The Sindh Building Control Ordinance, 1979 was promulgated in March, 1979 to regulate the planning, quality of construction, building control, etc in the province of Sindh. Immediately after promulgation of SBCO, the Housing, Town Planning, Local Government & Rural Development Department, Government of Sindh, notified the Master Plan & Environmental Control Department of the Karachi Development Authority as Authority for Karachi in pursuance of the Section 4 of SBCO.
It must be noted that any organization, institution or authority in the name and style of Karachi Building Control Authority was neither setup, created or established through any statute (act or ordinance) nor through any notification by the Government of Sindh. The Karachi Development Authority created a Department, Karachi Building Control Authority, sub-ordinate to the Master Plan Department, KDA. Accordingly, all the printed stationary (files, letter heads, etc) and documents carried the name as, "Karachi Building Control Authority" Karachi Master Plan & Environmental Control Department (Authority under The Sindh Building Control Ordinance, 1979) till its taking over by the Government of Sindh under its administrative control, sometime in the year 2008.
In my personal opinion, neither the federal government nor the Sindh government will provide the funds required for the infrastructure development in the future.
If KDA is revived/restored in its original position it will surely generate funds and ensure the infrastructure development of Metropolitan City of Karachi on a regular/permanent basis.
SYED MUKARRAM SULTAN BUKHARI
EX-DIRECTOR GENERAL PR GOVERNMENT OF SINDH AND EX-SECRETARY KDA
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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