A Rs300 million scheme to provide shelter for homeless people is in the pipeline and the development of this project will be overseen by Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, The News has learnt. It will be called ‘Shaheed Mohotarma Benazir Bhutto Shelter Scheme” and land in the vicinity of major cities in the province would be taken on rent from the Board of Revenue (BoR) to build decent living quarters for the homeless as well as those who dwell in ‘Katchi Abadis’.
A source in the Sindh Assembly claimed that the scheme would become a reality in two years time and qualified developers would be hired for this purpose. “The scheme is being carried out to realise the late Benazir Bhutto’s dream to provide decent housing for the impoverished people of the country,” the source added.
The state would bear the cost of providing “essential utensils” and apartments will be built for this scheme in the suburbs and major cities of Sindh. Katchi Abadis authorities and the Spatial Devlopment Department would sponsor the schemes. The directorate of the Spatial Development Department would be the executing authority for the scheme. The operation and maintenance of the scheme would also be looked after by the directorate of Spatial Development Department, the source said.
Major cities in Sindh are bulging at the seams, but despite that, people from rural areas are migrating to them in search of jobs. An influx of people the same size as the population of Islamabad comes to Karachi every year and the major chunk of them have no other option but to settle down in ‘katchi abadis.’ The population of the province has already touched the 35 million mark.
Internal migration puts pressure on the already poor infrastructure such as roads, transport, energy, healthcare, schools and colleges, water and sanitation. It has also made city life chaotic and ‘katchi abadis’ are increasing at an alarming rate. The chaos is resulting in serious health problems such as anxiety, depression and violence among the people who dwell in these slums. To contain the chaos the provincial government will acquire land in the suburban areas of major cities at subsidised rates and build apartments so that the poor can settle into a decent living space.
It will be ensured that the poor are provided all basic amenities. The capital cost of the scheme has been estimated at 300 million rupees. Proper demand and supply analysis will be conducted and annual operating as well as maintenance cost will be borne by the State, the source added.
