KARACHI: The governing body of the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) on Wednesday approved the authority’s Rs6.918 billion budget for financial year 2021-22.

The budget was approved under Section 27 of the KDA Order 1957. It also approved its implementation from July 1, 2021 with retrospective effect.

The approval of the budget has been accorded in a meeting held at the Civic Centre’s seminar hall. The meeting was presided over by Sindh Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, who is also the chairman of the KDA’s governing body.

Local Government Secretary Syed Najam Shah, MPA Shamim Mumtaz, KDA Director General Nasir Abbas Soomro and other members were also present.

The budget of the KDA for the new financial year 2021-22 amounting to Rs6.918bn was approved, while the revised budget for the year 2020-21 amounting to Rs6.605bn was also approved in the meeting.

The LG minister said that a public housing scheme should be planned under public-private partnership on four plots of 20,900 yards of land of KDA in Surjani Town.

He said that work on the KDA scheme should be expedited and assured of Sindh government’s full cooperation.

Action ordered

Minister Shah asked why KDA’s housing schemes were delayed for 15 years when in the private sector, housing schemes were completed in three years and the owners got possession.

He directed that a list of KDA’s delayed projects, including the Saddar Parking Plaza, should be compiled and all problems and obstacles should be removed.

The minister said that occupation on KDA housing schemes should also be removed.

“If the flats of KDA are occupied, it is the negligence of KDA officials,” he said, adding that complaints had been received that marriage halls were constructed on amenity plots and parks of KDA.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2021