Chairman of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee for Housing and Works Mian Abdul Mannan Tuesday said assistance of Pakistan Rangers – Sindh must be sought for evacuation of precious public property from the possession of land mafia in Karachi.
Talking to APP, he particularly referred to the Carlton Hotel land mentioning that the plot worth millions of rupees was owned by the Federal Housing and Works Ministry, but, like several other government-owned properties, it had been illegal occupied by nefarious elements.
“The NA’s Standing Committee on Housing and Works has urged the committee concerned to take up the issue with Pakistan Rangers – Sindh and get it evacuated without any unnecessary delay,” he said.
To a query, he said non-availability of funds had severely affected many of the well envisaged development projects ultimately causing severe loss to the national exchequer and inconvenience to the masses.
“Projects delayed and kept pending is tragic and can not be accepted under any grounds,” he said referring to Islamabad Airport
that was envisaged to be completed at a cost of Rs17 billion, however, due to frequent delays it would now cost Rs108 billion to the
nation.
Mentioning that he has assumed the chairmanship of the NA’s Committee for Housing and Works only a months ago, MNA Abdul Mannan said associated issues were being minutely reviewed by him.
“Action as per law will be recommended, without any distinction, for people found responsible for unwarranted delays in timely
completion of development projects,” he said.
The public representative said committee headed by him had also recommended that assistance of Pakistan Rangers – Sindh be procured to get vacated the plot earmarked for Carlton Hotel and that public welfare scheme be initiated on the same.
He expressed his inability to understand as how come land grabbers manage to get stay orders in the absence of authorized
ownership and legal documents.
Earlier chairing a meeting he asked the ministry of housing and works officials to update him about details of fresh construction on the premises of Qasr e Naz (State Guest House) in Karachi and record of non-payment by those who may have availed facilities here.
Director General, PWD, Safdar Ali, briefing him about schemes in the southern zone during past four years, said several of the projects had been completed in the districts of Tharparkar, Shikarpur, Nausherofiroz, Sajawal, Ghotki, Badin, Karachi, Hyderabad, Khairpur Mirs and Thatta.
He said many others were left pending due to non-availability of funds.
On the occasion MNAs Sajid Nawaz,Nighat Parveen Mir, Shahida Rehmani and Khalda Mansoor sought details of the pending projects and steps being taken against land grabbers.

Source: APP