KARACHI: The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation has planned to undertake a comprehensive fresh survey and reassessment of Katchi abadis land throughout the city following the detection of serious violations and illegal constructions on the land officially declared as katchi abadis. The grass violations included the setting up of petrol pumps, construction of high-rise buildings, and large-scale commercial activities on the katchi abadis land. The decision was taken during a high-level meeting of the Katchi Abadis Department held at the KMC Head Office on Wednesday, which was presided over by the City Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab. The meeting reviewed multiple complaints and reports highlighting grave irregularities and misuse of katchi abadis land by some allottees. Addressing the meeting, the Mayor expressed serious concern over the operation of high-end commercial ventures such as petrol pumps, multi-storey buildings and commercial centres—on katchi abadi land. He termed these activities a clear violation of katchi abadis laws, rules, and the original purpose of allotments, emphasizing that katchi abadis were established to provide affordable housing for low-income residents, not for commercial exploitation. The Mayor directed the Senior Director, katchi abadis Department, to immediately conduct a detailed survey of all relevant katchi abadi lands. The survey will include verification of land records, allotments, current usage, and the nature of activities being carried out. He also instructed that a comprehensive report be submitted, followed by a lawful reassessment of all cases strictly in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Mayor Karachi also expressed dissatisfaction over the existing fee structure of the katchi abadis Department, stating that current charges for land, regularization, and renewals are significantly lower than prevailing market rates and do not reflect the true value of public land. He termed this disparity unjustified and directed officials to revise and rationalize the fee structure. The Mayor noted that this step would enhance transparency, ensure fairness, and generate additional revenue for the city, which could be utilized for development projects and the improvement of civic services. During the meeting, the Senior Director Katchi Abadis informed the Mayor that the department had achieved record-breaking recovery during the last six months of the current fiscal year. He stated that over Rs 65 million had been recovered—the highest recovery in the department’s history—and expressed confidence that the annual recovery would exceed the targets. He also briefed the meeting on the ongoing digitization of Katchi Abadis records, stating that the process was in its final stages. Once completed, the digital system would help secure katchi abadis land in a modern, transparent, and efficient manner, significantly reducing the risks of encroachments, illegal transfers, and record tampering. The Mayor also directed the department to enhance its institutional and structural capacity by strengthening its wings, improving internal coordination, and upgrading technical and human resources to ensure effective implementation of policies and laws. He instructed the officials to accelerate work on modern slum housing projects. He emphasized the need to transform the city’s informal settlements into planned, service-oriented communities, citing successful urban renewal models from cities such as Bangkok and Jakarta. He stressed that improving living conditions in katchi abadis was essential for reshaping the city’s overall outlook and delivering better services to its residents. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026