The government has decided to privatise the planned re-development of Katchi Abadis, if not hazardous by virtue of being close to railway tracks, located under high-power transmission lines, on or close to riverbeds or on lands needed for security purposes, to tackle “the major challenge of our time”. However, no Katchi Abadies that were established after 1985 will be regularised.
According to sources, the National Housing Authority (NHA) had prepared various recommendations for urban renewal and up-gradation of Katchi Abadies and slums in all parts of the country. According to the plan, Katchi Abadies, which are not close to railway tracks, located under high-power transmission lines, or close to the riverbeds or on lands needed for operational/security purposes, would be privatised for planned re-development, subject to the condition that all occupants were provided a residential unit at affordable price on mutually agreed terms and conditions and price to be recovered in easy monthly instalments.
Mostly, Katchi Abadies are formed in Sindh and Punjab provinces in and around urban centres as a result of unplanned urbanisation and inadequate provision of shelter/formal housing to the urban poor. This trend is one of the most immediate pressing problems and reflects the failure of the government to prepare the cities to cater for the needs of sustainable urbanisation i.e. infrastructure, services, civic facilities and formal housing needs of low-income groups moving from rural areas to urban centres for better employment opportunities.
According to the NHA recommendations, a copy of which is available with Pakistan Today, the Katchi Abadies would be privatised for initiating Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) on mutually agreed terms and conditions between private partners and Katchi Abadies’ dwellers. These would be redeveloped exploring Public Private Partnership on existing locations by demolishing existing structure and constructing high rise apartments, proportionally larger in number then the original dwelling units of the Katchi Abadies, including commercial area for selling extra apartments and commercial units in open market through public auction to generate funds to meet at least 70 percent of the redevelopment cost while 30 percent of the cost for providing services and internal infrastructure to be met from PSDP allocations.
The recommendations further said that the hazardous Katchi Abadies would be demolished and relocated on feasible state land. However, occupants of these settlements would be provided residential units in such abadies which are planned for redevelopment.
Land of demolish-able Katchi Abadies may be privatised for restricted commercial uses, such as nurseries, farm houses and sale proceeds will be used to meet the expenses incurred on relocating affected dwellers to feasible locations.
Provincial governments/DCOs would complete and update the inventory of all post and pre-1985 Katchi Abadies and submit workable action plans for redevelopment of these informal settlements.
The government would explore possibilities for obtaining financial and technical assistance from UN Habitant and other relevant international agencies for up-gradation and redevelopment of such informal settlements for sustainable urbanisation and control of environmental degradation.
The NHA has recommended that fiscal incentives, including total exemption of Preventive Tax Regime, would be given to private sector builders who will undertake up-gradation and redevelopment projects of Katchi Abadies.
A Katchi Abadies Authority would be established in all provinces on the pattern of Sindh Katchi Abadies Authority. Regulatory bodies would be set up at federal, provincial and district levels to control further growth of informal settlements.
According to recent estimates, nearly 50 percent of the population in major urban centres is forced to live in slums in unhealthy environmental conditions without basic infrastructure and facilities.
The situation has further deteriorated as tendency of emerging new slums in the last two decades has picked up pace despite the decision of the government that no Katchi Abadies formed after 1985 would be regularised.
The mushroom growth of Katchi Abadies has become a major challenge of our time.
