KPT Officers Society
KPT Officers Society is a disputed area in Karachi, Pakistan. The Karachi Port Trust (KPT), through its entity, the Karachi Port Trust Cooperative Housing Society, had planned this area as a neighbourhood.[1]
Since 1887, KPT has controlled the eastern mangrove-covered flank of Chinna Creek. Known as the Mai Kolachi bypass land due to its location on both sides of Mai Kolachi Road, the southern part toward Chinna Creek was once rich with mangroves and had a natural seawater passage. Now, it lies barren, and the seawater flow is obstructed.[2]
The dispute
[edit]There has been a legal dispute over this land between the KPT housing society and the Sindh Government due to the intention to build here.[3] There was even the plan to build a Port Tower Complex, a 1,947 ft (593 m) tall skyscraper proposed for construction in KPT Officers Society.[4] To cultivate and make the 130-acres habitable, land was reclaimed from the Chinna Creek and the natural habitat was further reduced. The KPT housing society claimed that the land was owned by the KPT which had allotted the land and its lease.[5] In 2018, despite that the land was never formally transferred from the provincial government to the KPT, the Sindh High Court decided in favour of the housing society, after 18 years of litigation.[5]
In February 2020, the Supreme Court of Pakistan declared the allocation of the disputed land by the Karachi Port Trust Cooperative Housing Society as illegal.[6] The Court has ruled that KPT is not legally authorised to establish housing societies for its employees, nor to lease, transfer, or sell the port's property or land to them.[7] It also re-directed the KPT to ensure re-plantation of mangroves and restore the natural seawater flow, which extends to Sultanabad and Bath Island area.[2]
The heavy rainfall in 2021 revealed that the illegal construction by the KPT Officers Housing Society hindered the absorption of rainwater, leading to flooding.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ Kiamari Town - Government of Karachi Archived 2006-02-19 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Tanoli, Ishaq (8 February 2020). "SC declares allotment of land for KPT housing society illegal". Dawn. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ Shah, Aslam (15 October 2017). "Sindh govt-KPT tug of war agonises 600 families". Daily Times. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ "KPT to build Rs20bn tower complex". Dawn. 12 October 2004. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ a b "KPT housing society wins Mai Kolachi bypass land dispute with Sindh govt". ARY News. ARY News. 9 February 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ "SC terms leasing of KPT land Illegal". Pakistan Observer. 7 February 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ Ahmed, Tanveer (20 February 2020). "Detailed order issued: KPT's board of trustees not authorised to create housing societies: SC". Business Recorder. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ Hasan, Arif (22 November 2021). "Karachi Floods". mhrc.lums.edu.pk. Mahbub ul Haq Research Centre at LUMS. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
