In Hyderabad, 137 housing schemes were found to be operating without proper authorization, according to the Hyderabad Development Authority (HDA). Out of these, 43 projects have since completed the required procedures to obtain official approval, while the remaining 94 remain illegal.
The matter was discussed during a session of the Sindh Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in Karachi on Thursday. PAC Chairman Nisar Ahmed Khuhro instructed the HDA to take strict action against all unapproved schemes. He also voiced concern over the delay in recovering approximately Rs2.5 billion in outstanding dues from builders, directing HDA Director General Asghar Ali Ghangro to issue immediate payment notices and seal the offices of defaulters if they fail to comply.
During the briefing, Ghangro explained that many developers launch the booking of plots and constructed units without first securing essential no-objection certificates (NOCs) for water supply and drainage. While water is typically provided to these projects, their wastewater often flows untreated into rivers, canals, and distributaries.
The committee also noted that a growing number of housing projects are replacing agricultural lands along the Hyderabad bypass. However, these new developments largely lack proper integration into the city’s drainage infrastructure, raising environmental and planning concerns.
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