After a gap of five years and four months, the 120th meeting of the Hyderabad Development Authority (HDA) Governing Body was held in Karachi under the chairmanship of Sindh Minister for Local Government, Saeed Ghani. Several key matters were approved, while some were deferred for the next session.
During the meeting, approval was granted for the draw of residential plots in Phase-IV of the Gulistan-e-Sarmast Housing Scheme, auctioning of available plots across HDA schemes, and disposal of outdated off-road vehicles. It was also agreed to initiate talks with the builders' association ABAD to resolve the issue of HDA fees and charges.
However, the proposed budgets for fiscal years 2023-24 (revised), 2024-25, and the prior 2022-23 budgets were not approved. Proposals for grants to support salaries, pensions, outstanding dues, and benefits were deferred for the next Governing Body session.
An agenda item seeking approval to cancel leases of 13 shops in Qasimabad and re-auction them due to non-payment of dues was also postponed. Minister Ghani advised that the matter could become politically sensitive and should be avoided for now. Notably, show-cause notices had previously been issued to former P&D Director Abdul Majid Khokhar and other officers over the same issue.
When briefing on external development charges from Gulistan-e-Sarmast bookings, it was revealed that HDA receives only 12% for service charges, while the remaining 88% is allocated for development. Former DG HDA and board member Masood Jamani raised objections, which were addressed by senior officers who confirmed the policy's consistency.
Further debate erupted over HDA's budget estimates for 2024-25 and the deficit-ridden 2023-24 accounts. The estimated expenditure for 2023-24 was Rs 3.068 billion, while revenue generated was only Rs 403.947 million-resulting in a deficit of over Rs 2.861 billion. Jamani again expressed serious reservations and requested time to brief the board further. Minister Ghani deferred the agenda citing other commitments. On Phase-IV of Gulistan-e-Sarmast, HDA officials revealed they had 2,700 plots available and around 2,500 applicants. When asked about the draw mechanism, they stated it would be computerized. However, Additional Chief Secretary Khalid Hyder Shah objected, suggesting a manual draw to avoid manipulation.
Sources disclosed that Phase-IV was originally planned in 2020 by combining unsold plots from earlier phases, without acquiring new land. Around 4,064 applications were received, and Rs 1.16 billion collected.
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