Sindh’s chief minister has said that Karachi is a megalopolis, and it has enormous problems, particularly encroachment of its lands, waterways and storm water drains, unplanned commercialisation of its roads, and improper development of its infrastructure, but during the past decade the government has started massive reconstructions.
Shah said Karachi has a different story in terms of playing havoc with its infrastructure and other resources. “This mess started in the 1980s during a dictatorial government.” He said the era was the beginning of encroachment of vast lands of the city, and that it was a period in which a large number of squatter settlements had emerged.
He added that the devolution plan had aggravated the situation because the now-defunct city governments were given vast powers without making the Nazims (mayors) accountable. “The land revenue powers given to the Nazim resulted in unplanned allotment of lands on drains, natural waterways and even near important installations.”
The chief executive said that he was sorry but he could not bulldoze the houses in the squatter settlements to render thousands of people homeless.
