KARACHI: With ownership of more than 250 beach huts spread along the city’s coastline, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) is earning a mere Rs16,000 per year in rent for each hut. Meanwhile, many of these huts are being used for commercial purposes, with contractors renting out these facilities at rates ranging from Rs300,000 to Rs400,000 per day.

This fresh claim was made by Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab during a meeting with a delegation from the Beach House Owners Association at his office on Tuesday.

The meeting aimed to discuss issues, challenges, and various proposals to make the beaches under city administration more economical picnic spots for Karachiites and to enhance the viability of businesses offering services at these venues.

During the discussion, the mayor expressed his concerns about the “misuse” of KMC properties by certain individuals and business organisations. These entities are violating contractual rules and ignoring the primary objective of these properties, which is for the welfare and benefit of Karachiites. He specifically mentioned contractors who have acquired KMC huts at various beaches across the city and are breaching the contract terms.

“Some people acquire land and buildings from the KMC and treat them as their private property,” a statement issued after the meeting quoted Mayor Wahab as saying.

“They don’t think anything about the city that these lands and these buildings are obtained for various social and welfare purposes. For instance, the KMC is getting the rent of huts at the beach of Hawke’s Bay at Rs16,000 per year while several huts are being operated on a commercial basis for which the fare of a hut is charged as Rs300,000 to Rs400,000 per day. This isn’t fair.”

Says KMC earns only Rs16,000 per year for each of 267 huts

He recalled that in April 2021, the city council passed a resolution to increase the rents of these huts. However, several tenants filed lawsuits and some obtained stay orders, preventing the city administration from receiving the due rent, despite the fact that Rs16,000 per year is an extremely low rate for an international city like Karachi.

“There are 267 huts, and tenants of 72 huts have approached the court regarding the rent increase. If tenants feel that the increase is excessive, they can vacate the huts, which can then be allocated to others. Despite the already low rent of Rs16,000 per year, several tenants have not paid rent to the KMC since 2017,” the mayor informed the delegation.

He mentioned that the construction of Mauripur Road and Kennup Road has significantly improved access to beach and marine recreational spots, resulting in a large number of daily visitors. Such infrastructure developments by the government will only benefit Karachiites with the cooperation of the hut tenants, he added.

“The tenants of KMC huts need to decide whether to continue legal battles or to resolve this issue through negotiations,” said the mayor. He also offered a solution: “In case of the lump-sum payment of rent from 2017 to June 30, 2024, the KMC is willing to provide a discount on the rent. Any problem can be resolved through negotiations. It is crucial to remember that these are public places, and access to them cannot be restricted.”

Those who rent these facilities from the KMC for a year either use them personally or operate them commercially, charging exorbitant rents from the common people of the city.

The mayor, during the meeting, directed the senior director of land to issue rent challans immediately and to notify defaulters of KMC huts without taking disciplinary actions, such as demolishing the huts. He expressed full support for public-private partnerships, aligned with the vision of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), suggesting that institutions could be better managed and made profitable under such initiatives.

The Beach House Owners Association delegates, including Nadir Dubash, Adeel Memon, and Shah Purmanikji, pledged their support to the KMC in enhancing the attractiveness and functionality of the venue. They were willing to provide attractive entertainment options so that more citizens could enjoy the beach.

The mayor invited the beach house owners to propose ideas to make Karachi beaches more attractive, economical, and viable for their businesses, assuring them of his full support.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2024