Revival of Hawksbay Scheme-42 to help lift city economy

Revival of the dormant mega housing of Hawksbay Scheme-42 would lift the city economy and boost construction activities, besides helping in mitigating shortage of housing facilities in Karachi. The city needs hundreds of thousands of new housing units to accommodate its growing population and it would not be possible till new housing schemes are introduced and the dormant housing schemes are revived at fast track basis.
The mega housing scheme of Karachi, Hawksbay Scheme 42, is still dormant despite passage of more than decade and there are no chances of revival of this scheme in coming years, as Lyari Development Authority (LDA) has put it on the back burner.
The Hawksbay Housing Scheme No-42 comprising over an area of 20,900-acres was notified vide Gazette Notification dated 12-07-1984 (controlled area) and Gazette Notification dated 02-08-1984 (Development Area) by defunct-KDA for an area of 11450-acres (development area) comprising Deh Lal Bakhar and Moach. Physical possession of the state land was handed over to defunct-KDA by BOR. Afterward the scheme was transferred from defunct-KDA to LDA on 10-01-1996 by virtue of LDA Act-1993.
The LDA planned approximately 54,000 residential plots of various sizes from 80 to 400 sq yds and allotted to general public by open ballot from 1990 to 2008. However, the scheme remained dormant for more than 15 years for want of resources. The LDA claimed that in 2008, the scheme was re-activated and LDA generated funds to restart the physical development after balloting of 9,000 residential plots (240 & 400 Sq-yard).However, till now the possession of the plots of the allottees is yet to be started, as development work is not started in many sectors.
The Hawksbay Housing Scheme No-42 is a largest coastal housing scheme of the city and it would surely add to the beauty of the city, besides uplift of the coastal area of Lyari.
The Sindh government, under the able leadership of Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, should take notice of the inordinate delay of Hawksbay Scheme 42 and order appropriate measures to remove bottlenecks of this mega housing scheme of the capital city of Sindh province.