No squatter home count

Record keeping is not a strongest point of government authorities. The latest discussion which supports this conclusion is on the topic of katchi abadis, roughly translating into makeshift habitats used for people with low socioeconomic statuses in Sindh and the claim that the last census on the number of katchi abadis was conducted several decades ago. During the last survey, approximately 2,000 such abodes were recorded, of course with a population that was much smaller in Sindh. The lack of recordkeeping is one explanation for why history repeats itself and we often find events taking place in a cyclical pattern. Documentation would otherwise help eliminate and assuage such social problems. Considering the population of Sindh with hundreds from other provinces entering to find work and earn, the Sindh Assembly would better serve the province by employing record-keeping practices to maintain track of katchi abadis and what can be done to overall improve city infrastructure.

The issue is multifaceted with many pieces of missing data such as how many residents rely on such housing, whether the housing is established on encroached land, and what sort of facilities are available to the residents. Another important investigation to be carried out is who resides in katchi abadis. A PML-F legislator’s claim that terrorists reside in some katchi abadis should be handled maturely. Illegal residents should be dealt with and accordingly granted resident status or accounted for otherwise.

It has been the case in the past that katchi abadis have been found to be illegal abodes. Considering the impoverished state of the people, the provincial government should erect alternative housing as it is their responsibility to provide some assistance. Simply evicting them from their abodes would be inhumane. This is not to say that handouts or socialist policies are the way forward towards self-sustainability, but something more than just scaffolding needs to be provided.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23^rd, 2017.

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