KARACHI: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan has directed Malir Development Authority (MDA) and Lyari Development Authority (LDA) to initiate much-needed low cost housing projects to ensure affordable housing facilities to the public. He said this while presiding over a review meeting of MDA and LDA at Governor House. Secretary Local Government, Baqa ullah Unar, and officers from MDA, LDA and Board of Revenue also attended the meeting. The public-private partnership mode may be adopted for these low cost housing units to ensure their timely completion with the highest standards, he added. Dr Ibad said that Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD) was willing to undertake joint ventures for establishment of low cost housing units. Karachi is expanding and spreading faster than any estimates or projected figures and as such it requires affordable housing also along with other basic amenities, he observed. The governor said that lack of low cost housing was a serious issue in our mega city and responsible for mushrooming growth of slums in various parts of Karachi. All development agencies have an obligation to take notice of the same and lay special emphasis on building low cost and affordable housing units for the masses. He recommended the removal of all bottlenecks for early completion of New Housing Scheme, Shah Latif Town and Taisar Town of MDA. The development work on 9512 acre Taisar Town should also be accelerated, he directed. While reviewing the development works at Hawks Bay Scheme 42 of LDA, the Sindh governor observed that this project had been pending for a long time and as such efforts should me made to complete the scheme as soon as possible. He said that supply of five MGD water pumps to Hawks Bay would be ensured so as to enhance development activities in its various sectors. He directed local government secretaries to look into matters of finances, mutation and other related issues of both authorities and follow the summaries with the Finance Department in this regard. It may be noted that the citizens of Karachi had been demanding that the government look into corruption surrounding the Hawks Bay Scheme worth around $42billion, and clamouring for the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to get involved. However, now that the Sindh governor’s interest has been piqued, the chances of progress occurring on this front seem much brighter than they did previously.