The federal government has approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sindh for the construction of high-rise buildings on the old government quarters land in Karachi. The MoU is set to be signed among the Ministry of Housing and Works, Sindh Local Government department, and the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC). The collaborative effort aims to initiate reconstruction at various locations, including Jahangir, Martin, Clayton, and Pakistan Quarters.
Approximately 335 acres of valuable land in the heart of Karachi have been declared vacant due to the deteriorating condition of the old government quarters. Caretaker Chief Minister Maqbool Baqar revealed that these quarters were initially allocated to federal government employees when Karachi served as the federal capital. However, after the capital moved to Islamabad, the quarters were not reclaimed from federal employees, leading to issues such as occupation by other family members and reports of some quarters being sold without proper allotment or title deeds.
CM Maqbool Baqar emphasized that the vacant land would be identified for the launch of the pilot project. The proposed plan includes the development of a Green Zone, a commercial area, and residential quarters. The project will be executed under a public-private partnership model, with 40 percent of the constructed houses being allocated to current residents of the quarters. The Chief Minister assured that all quarter residents would be relocated to new residential buildings, and after their shifting, power of attorney would be transferred to them.
Furthermore, a commercial zone is planned to be established to stimulate economic activities. The Chief Minister outlined that the phased implementation of the project would be the responsibility of a third party after the formation of the plan. Overall, the initiative aims to address the challenges posed by the dilapidated government quarters, ensuring the construction of modern, efficient, and well-planned structures in the heart of Karachi.
