KARACHI, May 24: The Lyari Development Authority (LDA) has given approval for the appointment of a consultant firm to prepare an amended master plan of the entire Hawkesbay Scheme with the aim of transforming the Hawkesbay beach into a tourist attraction of international standard.

The approval was accorded by the LDA’s governing body which met here on Saturday under the chairmanship of City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal. The meeting also decided to fix the price of plots for members of the KDA Officers Association at Rs600 per square-yard.

Mr Kamal told the meeting that beaches around the world were beautified to attract tourists and other visitors and, therefore, the Hawkesbay beach should be developed and beautified with the same approach. However, he said, all constructions along the beach should be in accordance with the master plan.

He stressed that beach development must be carried out in a manner that the area could become a source of revenue generation for the entire country, besides contributing to the economic progress of Sindh and bringing about a change in the quality of people’s life in Sindh.

“We have marketed Karachi across the world and M/s Al-Nakeen, a subsidiary of the Dubai Bank, is keenly interested in developing this area,” he informed the meeting.

The nazim directed the LDA to seek Nadra’s assistance in ensuring a transparent process for the balloting of LDA’s new scheme in order to retain people’s confidence in government institutions.

Regarding the delay in the balloting, he stated that Nadra had taken more than stipulated time in preparing a computerized system for the purpose due to which the balloting could not be held on time. However, he added, the balloting process should now be resumed at the earliest.

Raise granted

The city nazim also ordered a raise of Rs4,500 per month in the salaries of all those LDA employees who were drawing Rs1,500 per month.

His attention was drawn to the grievances of low-paid employees and the officials at the meeting recommended a raise of Rs3,000 per month. He was told that there were 55 employees drawing Rs1,500 per month.

The nazim noted that the raise of Rs3,000 would make it Rs4,500 per month which was also an insufficient monthly income considering inflation and price-hike. He, therefore, approved a raise of Rs4,500 per month in their salaries.

The meeting was attended by DCO Javed Hanif, Director-General of LDA Ateeq Baig and members of the LDA governing body. Mr Kamal directed them that clearance in accordance with the master plan must be ensured for any scheme falling in the jurisdiction of the Lyari Development Authority and the Malir Development Authority, and asked EDO Master Plan to take necessary steps in this regard.—APP