Daily Times

KARACHI: Pakistan Public Works Department (PWD) has issued a letter directing 22 different government offices functioning within boundary wall of Pakistan Secretariat Saddar to vacate the site, according to officials of PWD.

According to details, PWD Staff Officer Jawaid Akhtar directed departmental heads to report on this effect by July 18, 2018. Jawaid Akhtar, in his letter also asked the relevant departmental heads to make arrangements to vacate offices on 6.89 acres of land out of 11 acres of land within a month’s period.

This step is being taken to build a new complex for Supreme Court Karachi registry in the light of a federal cabinet decision during Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s government.

In a meeting held on May 17, 2018, the cabinet had approved allotment of land measuring 6.89 acres in the premise of Pakistan Secretariat Saddar.

About 21 barracks including office blocks situated on the said land are to be demolished for clearance of site in order to commence building activities of SC registry.

According to PWD officials, offices of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Excise and Taxation Sindh, Banking Court, Intelligence Bureau and MPA would remain functional in their respective areas.

South Chief Engineer Nadeem Akhtar Shaikh said that the construction activity for SC registry would commence after the 22 government offices are vacated. Nadeem Akhtar said that the government offices functioning on the remaining 4.11 acres of land will not be vacated since the cabinet meeting had permitted these offices to remain on the site.

Departmental heads who were asked to shift told Daily Times under the condition of anonymity that shifting within a month’s period was going to be difficult. “The time for vacating site is very short, shifting is difficult, finding new premises in short period of time is a herculean task. Financial and administrative decisions cannot be taken in such a short span of time since relocation of offices is time taking,” they said.

According to Muhammad Shah, a city planner, the current SC registry near Shaheen Complex is a heritage building. “The current SC registry had initially been the head office of Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) . KWSB head office had been functioning for 40 long years. The place was then given to SC registry around 1997,” Shah explained.

According to the issued letter, offices of Films and Publication Director General, Federal Investigation Agency Deputy Director, Quaid-e-Academy’s Officer In-charge, Estate Officer, Officer In-Charge Rent Audit Party of DG Audit Work, Banking Courts Registrar, Nazrul Islam Academy Officer In-charge, Federal Investigation Agency Deputy Director, Pakistan Medical and Dental Council Officer In charge, Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation Project Director, Press Information Department Director General, National Accountability Bureau Director, Federal Investigation Agency Deputy Director, Agriculture Department Officer In-charge, Home Department Officer in-charge, Customs Court Registrar, Population and Welfare Department Officer in-charge, Dispensary officer in-charge, Labour Appellant Officer in-charge, , Housing and Works Society Section Officer, Federal Services Registrar and Federal Service Tribunal have to vacate the site.

Published in Daily Times, July 20^th 2018.