Karachi: 2,600 residents of villages get permanent land leases

[Naveed Yaseen]

Lease documents were distributed on Monday by Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah to more than 200 residents out of a total of 2,600 people from four villages (Goths). He distributed these documents during a large public gathering at Sachchal Goth. Lease documents were distributed to the remaining 2,400 residents after the CM left the event.

Shah said that through this, the Pakistan People‘s Party (PPP)-led government was striving to fulfil the promise of “Roti, Kapra aur Makan” (food, shelter and clothing) which the former chairperson of the party, the late Benazir Bhutto, had made to the poor people of the country.

He said that Bhutto had not only promised land leases to people, but had also pledged that houses will be constructed so that these families may live in peace. Shah said that Bhutto‘s promise of providing jobs to people will also be fulfilled soon, and the government was taking steps in this regard. “Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto is not present among us but we do feel her presence,” he said.

The CM criticised the previous rulers for not providing jobs to the youth for 13 years, while unemployment, crimes and problems of the people increased. He said that the present government had given a 15-year relaxation in the age-limit for employment, and now people up to the age of 43 years can apply for government jobs.

The protection of the rights of the masses is the government‘s responsibility and the residents of all villages will be given permanent leases of their plots so that no one can dislocate them from their houses, he said. Sindh Minister Jam Saifullah Dharejo said that the government had planned to regularise a total of 800 Goths. Four hundred of these have already been regularised, he said.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=154554