KARACHI: The federal government has decided to renew the 54-year lease for the residents of Pakistan Quarters in Karachi.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has issued directives for the lease orders at the request of Sindh Assembly member Jamal Siddiqui. The federal government has leased the land of Pakistan Quarters by paying Rs413 million.
In his video message, MPA Jamal Siddiqui said that according to the vision of the Prime Minister, no one’s roof will be snatched away while all the people will be provided houses.
It should be noted that the Sindh Revenue Department has issued lease documents on payment of Rs413 million. The lease of Pakistan Quarters residents has been pending since 1995.
The federal government is also launching a housing scheme for the residents of Pakistan Quarters. Two years ago Sindh Governor Imran Ismail had directed to address the problems faced by the residents of Pakistan Quarters.
Jamshed Quarters, Martin East, Martin West, and Jahangir Quarters are all part of Pakistan Quarters that were built on state land for government servants at the time of Partition.
The residents have been demanding ownership on the basis of longstanding occupation. In July 2018, In the Supreme Court ordered to get the housing units situated in Pakistan Quarters, Martin Quarters, Jamshed Quarters, Clayton Quarters, Federal Capital Area, and other colonies of Karachi evacuated within 10 days from illegal occupants.
Earlier this year in February, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the federal cabinet has directed Ministry of Housing and Works to use Personal Ledger Accounts (PLAs) to pay the lease amount for Pakistan Quarters.
The ECC was informed that the Ministry of Housing and Works was holding property measuring 32.13 acres on lease from the provincial government of Sindh in Garden West Area, Karachi.
This property was titled as Pakistan Quarters and it comprised 396 residential accommodations for federal government servants. The government had planned and designed a regeneration plan involving re-development of the area.
The current occupants would be accommodated in some of the units after paying cost price. A presentation was made to the prime minister in November last year. The prime minister had directed to make all-out efforts to start the project within the given timelines. The lease of the property had expired on 31-07-1995 and regeneration project would only be possible with the renewal of the lease.
