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KARACHI: The Karachi Development Authority (KDA) has unveiled its Greater Karachi Regional Master Plan 2047, aimed at addressing the evolving challenges of the city and guiding its development priorities for the next few decades. This initiative, as announced by KDA Director General Asif Jan Siddiqui, seeks to update the 2020 Master Plan in response to the city’s changing landscape and emerging needs.
During a meeting with the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Siddiqui explained that the master plan is being developed with the help of foreign consultants. This plan will serve as the cornerstone for future infrastructure and development decisions in the city.
The meeting was attended by key figures from the business community, including Vice Chairman of the Businessmen Group, Jawed Bilwani, and President of KCCI, Muhammad Rehan Hanif, among others. Siddiqui assured the participants that stakeholders, particularly the KCCI, are integral to the planning process and have been included in crucial committees related to the master plan.
Addressing KDA’s financial situation, Siddiqui highlighted a monthly shortfall of Rs. 13 crore due to salary obligations, despite receiving a Rs. 40 crore grant from the Sindh Government. This financial gap is currently bridged through revenue from plot transfers. He noted that while KDA has the expertise and machinery for projects, it relies on government funding for execution.
KDA projects worth billions are underway, funded by the Sindh Government, Siddiqui added. He lamented the absence of federal support for Karachi’s development, emphasizing the reliance on the provincial government.
Bilwani, participating via Zoom, raised concerns about encroached KDA plots and the need for effective action from the Anti-Encroachment Cell. He also pointed out the inactivity of the Traffic Engineering Bureau, responsible for maintaining traffic signals in the city.
Expressing optimism, Bilwani praised Siddiqui’s track record and anticipated improvements in KDA’s performance. Hanif welcomed Siddiqui and highlighted the creation of a subcommittee for Karachi’s upliftment, led by Nusair Siraj Teli, to continue his late father’s advocacy for the city.
Hanif called for more housing development schemes, given Karachi’s population growth and economic contributions. Teli, echoing these sentiments, emphasized Karachi’s significance as a ‘Mini Pakistan’ and urged immediate action to address its infrastructural challenges.