CM Baqar keen to launch urban rejuvenation project on empty land of Martin, Clayton quarters
Chehra WebDesk
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 Manejo, Secretary Local govt Manzoor Shaikh,
Commissioner Karachi Saleem Rajput, Secretary Transport Asad Zamin, DG KDA
Tahir Sangi and others.
Chairman P&D Shakil Mangejo briefing the chief minister
said that Martin, Clayton and Jahangir quarters have been established over 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 katchiabadies around these 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.
