KARACHI: The Provincial Coordination and Implementation Committee, headed by the Chief Minister Sindh, approved over PKR 5 million as compensation for the 6,932 residents displaced during anti-encroachment operations along Gujjar Nullah, Orangi Nullah, and Mehmood Abad Nullah. The operations were aimed at clearing the drains to prevent flooding in Karachi.
The Committee was formed to oversee the affairs related to the special development package for Karachi announced by the previous PTI federal government. The meeting was attended by the Corps Commander, Commissioner Karachi, and other senior officials, who took key decisions.
Commissioner Karachi Muhammad Iqbal Memon informed the committee that Rs. 5.13 million have been released by the Sindh government for displaced persons. Of these displaced people, 200 have died, and their house rent will be given to their legal heirs. The CNICs of the deceased have been blocked, and their cases are pending with the deputy commissioners.
Moreover, the committee also decided that the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) and National Logistic Cell (NLC) will complete Gujjar Nullah, the wall of Orangi Town Nullah, and Kofar Dam by May 2023. A survey and study will be conducted by the NED University for the construction of a new bridge in Liaquatabad.
The Gujjar Nullah and Orangi Nullah projects will be completed by October 2023, and the Provincial Disaster Managing Authority was directed to prepare a revised PC-One for timely completion.
Furthermore, the UN human rights activists had earlier criticized the displacement of thousands of people from these traditional rainwater drains. They had called on the Pakistani government to stop demolitions until proper compensation and relocation plans were made.
