Sindh: Boost Karachi’s development
Karachi : (Kashif Shamim Siddiqui): Sindh Minister for Local Government, Housing and Town Planning Syed Nasir Hussain Shah has pledged provincial government support for strengthening the Karachi Development Authority (KDA), clearing outstanding dues of retired employees and improving the authority’s financial sustainability through better management of public land.
“Timely payment of salaries and pensions is the fundamental right of employees, and unnecessary delays must be avoided,” the minister said while chairing the 1,200th meeting of the KDA Governing Body at the KDA head office.
The meeting approved the authority’s budget for the financial year 2026-27 and a 25 per cent concession for owners of auctioned plots who clear their outstanding dues in a lump sum. It also approved an increase in service charges in the Recovery and Department of Planning and Urban Design (DPUD).
Discussing the financial difficulties faced by retired employees, Mr Shah assured the meeting that the Sindh government would continue to extend support for settling their outstanding dues and pensions. He stressed the need for a practical strategy to address the issue and provide relief to pensioners who depend on these payments for their livelihood.
The minister also called for stronger measures to protect government land and enhance the authority’s revenue. He directed officials to immediately remove soft encroachments, prepare a final list of affected properties and take strict action against illegal occupation or misuse of KDA welfare plots.
He further ordered that encroachments be cleared before plots are offered for auction and all legal and administrative requirements be completed in advance. To ensure transparency and secure better returns, the market value of the plots will be assessed through an independent third party.
Emphasising the importance of modernising land administration, KDA Director General Zain-ul-Abideen Ansari informed the meeting that a plan to digitise land records had been prepared and its implementation would begin shortly.
The initiative is expected to improve the security and accessibility of records, simplify verification procedures and reduce the scope for irregularities, while making land-related services more transparent and efficient.
The meeting also reviewed measures to improve KDA’s financial autonomy and administrative performance.
It was attended by MPAs Ali Ahmed Jan and Muhammad Yousuf Baloch, Additional Chief Secretary Local Government Dr Waseem Ahmed Shamshad, Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi, and other members of the KDA Governing Body and relevant officials.