Sindh Government to Demolish Huts at Hawke’s Bay
As per announcement, around 254 huts along the coast will be razed down by the government
In a bid to revamp Hawke’s Bay beach on Karachi’s coastline, Sindh government has announced to invite private investors to build three-star hotels and huts on the beach. In this regard, around 254 huts along the coast will be demolished.
While talking to the media, Khalid Mehmood Shaikh, Director General (DG) of Sindh Government’s Public-Private Partnership Unit (PPPU) has confirmed that the developmental project would be implemented by his unit.
“The government will hire a consultant to prepare a feasibility report regarding development on the beach”,he added.
Khalid Mehmood maintained that this would be a long-term project and will take at least six months to complete.
To implement Hawke’s Bay project, the Sindh government is going to draw up cost estimation first and feasibly study a report after which tenders will be issued.
Later, the suitable contractor will be selected by the policy board of the PPPU.
Khalid Mehmood Shaikh has emphasized the importance of a clean beach with facilities for the visitors in Karachi.
He asserted that the project is vital for the citizens to enjoy a clean environment on the beach in their own city instead of traveling abroad.
The Administrator of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Laiq Ahmed told the media that a chartered accountancy firm will be contacted to estimate the value of the coastal land.
Apparently, KMC has been a frail body that has remained unable to manage its finances and to work out the initiatives, the corporation looks up to the provincial government.
On January 21, Sindh Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah announced a grant of Rs 17 million to make KMC stable.
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He maintained that many valuable parks and huts on beaches come under KMC but have been abandoned by the corporation.
They could be run under Public-Private Partnership mode to generate revenue.
According to KMC, around 254 huts have been leased to the people.
In the preceding year, these leases have been canceled by the corporation after the lessee did not pay charges to the it for the past three years.
However, the hut owners have denied the claims and said, “We are not defaulters. We went to the KMC office but the staff refused to collect it”. The reason for this was the anticipated hike in the fee.
The lease agreement clearly states that it is for a year unlike the rest of Karachi where the lease term is 99 years. However, KMC issued notices to the huts’ owners without stating any reason for the cancellation of the lease.
