Sindh government snubs President: Declares Hawkesbay plots draw illegal

KARACHI - The Sindh government has declared Hawkesbay housing scheme plots draw, performed by President Pervez Musharraf, as illegal and hence refused to endorse it.

The ceremony concerning this draw was held at Governor house in which President Musharraf conducted the draw while Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad was also present.

The scheme consists of 9,000 plots out of which plots of 240 to 400 yards. Meanwhile, a provincial government spokesperson and provincial Information Minister Shazia Marri, in a Press conference, declared that the draw was illegal, saying that the Sindh Government had nothing to do with it.

Provincial Local Government Minister Agha Siraj Durrani was also not present in the function. It is said about him that he has gone to his village.

Meanwhile, a statement issued from the Governor House has said that the allies are fully united.

APP adds: President Pervez Musharraf Saturday vowed to steer the country out of various problems like political turmoil and the menace of terrorism and extremism.

"Pakistan has come to live and survive", he said while speaking as chief guest at the balloting ceremony of some 9,000 plots in Hawkesbay Scheme-42 of Lyari Development Authority (LDA) held at Governor's House.

Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan, City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal, Naib Nazim Nasreen Jalil, provincial ministers and DG LDA Agha Maqsood Abbas were also present on the occasion.

President said we have to pull the country out of turmoils and tackle the challenges of terrorism and extremism if Pakistan is to survive and keep moving forward.

"Pakistan has come to live and survive", he said adding that Allah created Pakistan for the Muslims of South Asia and it will live forever.

Referring to balloting of plots, President said the mission always before him has been to work for the poorest of poor and it is for the fourth time that he is performing the balloting of plots.

Pointing out that through balloting, some 120,000 plots have been given so far, President announced that an additional 100,000 plots would be provided in Taisar Town with emphasis on small size plots for the poor.

He said there are people who have been living along the nullahs and in the slums and these people should have a right to own a place in the world to live in.

President said once he had the opportunity of flying over Lyari river and Lyari Expressway and saw people living in the riverbed with sewerage water all around their dwellings.

He said these people were given land and money to construct their houses and thus have decent living conditions.

In a city like Karachi, he opined it is more essential to have more plots of small size, say 80 sq yards on which well-designed 3-room houses can be constructed to meet the residential requirements of the poor.

He appreciated the dynamism of Governor Dr Ishrat and City Nazim Syed Mustafa for thinking on right lines, saying their efforts for providing shelter to the poor is commendable.

Referring to the speedy development in Karachi in various sectors like housing, construction of bridges, flyovers, underpasses and quality roads, overhauling of sewerage system, water projects like K-III, the President described the same as a good effort of the Sindh Governor and the City Nazim.