Regularise Katchi Abadies and Goths now

Regularize all Katchi Abadies and Goths now!

By Tarique Khan Javed                   Dated: 13 Jan 2012

President, Overseas Pakistani Investors Forum

PPP in action finally:

Suddenly PPP has promised to regularize all Kutchi Abadies and Goths in Karachi by 27th Feb 2012! What's the sudden urgency and why they were sleeping over the issue for last four years?

Senator Raza Abidi distributed Title deeds to 5 Goths of Lyari recently and promised to complete the task of issuing title deed to other Goths and Katchi Abadies by the above dead line.

Was it, as popularly perceived a tactics of PPP, to deny the lease as promised in Election, till the time of next election. So it's impact remain fresh in the minds of its voters or they have been forced into action by the sudden popularity of PTI?

What ever is the reason, if this is indeed done, it will help end poverty in the city.  It is said that 80pc population of Karachi resides in these unregularized Areas. They will become solid vote bank of PPP. It is also said that in Karachi only 10pc of Land is occupied by Katchi Abadies and Goths, yet due to intense concentration of population, it accommodates its 80pc population.

Forty pc poverty in the Country is in Towns and Cities and they are located in Katchi Abadies and Goths. If we want to end poverty in urban areas what is required is immediate regularization of these areas.

Iranian example:

In Iran after the revolution the right of every citizen residing in Town and Cities to a dwelling was accepted and Government bought Houses from owners of more than one houses to accommodate them. Recently Ahmedi Nijat sold his 43 year old car to fund making of new houses for homeless in cities.

Giving Land rights to ancient villages in Lyari is not a big favor in fact it is their right, denied by successive governments including 3 PPP's. These villages existing even before Pakistan and its residents are the actual residents of Karachi. Non regularization of these villages and other discrimination against them like non issuance of NICs, has made the residents of these village dwellers very poor.

If one visits Lyari and observe keenly, one can clearly seen demarcation in poverty line. On one side on can see Kharadar, Lee Market area with very tall buildings without much space between them. On the other hand Bihar colony, Agra Taj Area, are again with thick high buildings population. In between the two is located Areas where one sees only one story houses often with tin roof. This is particularly marked around Lyari General Hospital and Benazir University area.

What's the difference between these two extremes?

Robin hoods and their origin:

It is that one area has Title Deed, is regularized with Registered Documents of ownership, thus mortgageable and other is not. In the regularized area there is no poverty, unemployment and crime, while the other area is known for Gang War, Drug trade, Gambling etc and very high rate of unemployment among male youth population. Rahman Dakait (Later Late Sardar Rahman Baloch), Baba Ladla, Ustad Taju, Mama etc are the celebrities of these impoverished area. They are apparently the Robin hoods who do lot of social work in their area out of ill gotten wealth. They are so popular that entire localities come out in their defense when Police goes to arrest them. For Karachi’s peace it is essential that this pocket of poverty is removed. Fortunately we have a very easy means to do that through regularization of this Area. This will also mean substantial income for the Government so starve for funds.

In my opinion if Title deed is given to all these Areas settled since long time, poverty in the area will vanish within few years and living conditions changes drastically. As soon title deeds would become available the Area will be swamped by Builders who would offer to build upto 7 story buildings on these plots. If they offer to give two floors to the owner and keep five for selling. The owner would instantly become rich and get out of poverty trap.

Trouble spots of Karachi:

Like Lyari other trouble spots in Karachi like Banaras, Orangi Town, Kati Pahari, Shohrab Goth, Pahalwan Goth, Essa Nagri, Safoora Goth,  Moosa Colony, Fakira Goth, Hazara Goth,Hydari, etc are in this condition due to their non regularization. Once regularized; they would be pacified.

No more time should be wasted in regularizing all such areas of Karachi and other Urban Centers to reduce poverty and also crime. My Observation of similar situation in other Counties indicate that, discrimination like above is a major contributor of poverty and once such discrimination ends, things improve rapidly.

PPP has support in Katchi Abadies and Goths of Karachi and they should act on urgent basis to cement their hold by regularizing these. This would ensure them huge support of 80pc population even if the remaining 20pc residents of the city in Regularized area do not like this.

Urgent Land and Tax Reforms needed:

1) I also recommend that PPP immediately implement the Land Reform Act of 1977, restricting maximum land holding to 100 acres down from 150 cares as per Land Reform Act of 1972. This will improve their popularity in Rural areas in a big way. As the distribution of million of acres of land among landless will swell their vote bank even if alienate, a small number of Land Lords holding more than 100 acres land. They would be a small number of people and not significant from election point of view. When Bhutto distributed Land in 1972 they did not mount any significant resistance.

To start with Government should immediately distribute the 2.7 million acre land available from 1959 and 1972 Land Reforms.

2) I, also recommend  that PPP consider dismantling the current Regressive Tax system. Which refuses to tax the Rich and only target the salaried Class and the poor for raising tax? Any talk of progressive tax like Wealth Tax to Inheritance Tax is closed by calling it Un Islamic.

I recommends adoption of Tax system of any of the following Countries: Canada, UK, France, Germany and Holland.

Dividends of Democracy:

The recent emergence of new political forces like PTI and APML, currently without a Manifesto has shaken the old parties like PPP to the core. They have woken up from their slumber and seem ready to act for their survival.

I am hopeful that this healthy competition between political parties will solve this very old problem of Karachi and make it a very peaceful and prosperous place. If Land reform is also carried out it in the same vain it will be a great development and help PPP.

These would be a major dividend of democracy and strengthen it to such an extent that Army will never dare to challenge it. If it does it will face massive popular revolt beyond their control, as existing in established democracies.

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