Mayor Proposes High-Rise in Slums to Improve Karachi’s Infrastructure

Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab, during a visit to the (Association of Builders and Developers) ABAD house on Wednesday, proposed the construction of high-rise buildings on vacant lands in Karachi’s slum areas through a public-private partnership (PPP). The aim is to provide 50% of the flats in these new buildings to the residents of the slums.

Wahab also highlighted the Sindh government’s initiatives to improve infrastructure, including the 13 billion rupees payment to the Water and Sewerage Corporation for better water systems and the planned launch of water supply from the Hub Dam canal in August 2025. Additionally, a significant portion of the Rs. 77 billion investments in infrastructure projects will be completed by December 2025.

Mayor stressed the need for collaboration with ABAD (Association of Builders and Developers of Pakistan) to work on improving Karachi’s beauty and rebuilding 56 slums in the city. The mayor shared the government’s focus on addressing the city’s growing issue of encroachments, especially in comparison to the situation 30 years ago. He also talked about the financial challenges faced by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), stating that the KMC’s revenue had grown significantly from Rs. 20 million to Rs. 228 million in just one month.

Wahab discussed the ongoing infrastructure upgrades, such as the work on major roads, including the Jam Sadiq Bridge expansion, and initiatives like waste-to-energy projects and water recycling for industrial use.

ABAD Chairman Mohammad Hassan Bakshi emphasized the issue of land encroachments in Karachi, particularly in slum areas, and called for the digitization of land records to combat corruption and mismanagement. He also urged the mayor to take the lead in creating a master plan for the city’s development.

Patron-In-Chief and the former chairman ABAD, Mohsin Sheikhani, also spoke on the importance of addressing land mafia activities and urged the PPP (Pakistan People’s Party) to take action. He pointed out that Karachi’s development would not only benefit the city but also significantly increase revenue for both federal and provincial governments.