KARACHI: Karachi Mayor, Murtaza Wahab, has invited the Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD) to join a public-private partnership to turn Karachi’s 56 slum areas into modern residential complexes.
Speaking at ABAD House, Wahab shared that his administration aims to build high-rise apartments on the vacant land within Karachi’s 56 Katchi Abadis, with 50 percent of the apartments reserved for the current residents of the slum areas.
“Karachi is my city, and I am proud to be a Karachiities,” Wahab stated. “We will work closely with ABAD to restore the vibrancy and beauty of this great metropolis.”
Highlighting Karachi’s development needs, Wahab announced that the Sindh government has allocated Rs 13 billion to the Water and Sewerage Corporation to improve water supply infrastructure, with new water from the Hub Dam expected by the end of August 2025.
Additionally, the Sindh government’s four-year, Rs 77 billion city development plan is set to be completed before December next year.
The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has also seen a financial boost, with revenue rising from Rs 200 million annually to Rs 228 million in just a month of September.
Mayor Wahab attributed this to efforts like commercializing rent on KMC-owned 9,000 shops, which has raised monthly income from Rs 80 million to Rs 255 million.
The KMC has also allocated Rs 500 million from its own resources for these development projects.
ABAD Chairman Muhammad Hasan Bakshi and Patron-in-Chief Mohsin Sheikhani supported the mayor’s vision, urging the provincial government to address issues like land grabbing.
Sheikhani stressed Karachi’s significance, noting that improving its infrastructure could boost federal tax revenue significantly.
