Floodwaters rekindle controversy over Saadi Town and Saadi Garden

Residents fear property losses as Sindh CM declares housing schemes built on natural waterways

The recent flood stream, triggered by the second spell of monsoon rain this year, that surged through Karachi has subsided, but it has once again placed the future of Saadi Town and Saadi Garden — two of Scheme 33’s largest housing projects — under intense scrutiny. Drainage operations continue across more than 10,000 plots housing more than 40,000 people, where streets and properties remain waterlogged.

The flooding was triggered by overflow from Thaddo Dam in Gadap, which crossed the M9 Motorway and entered Scheme 33. The stream traveled through Shamim Villas, Gulshan-e-Usman, Block 7, and Saadi Garden before inundating Saadi Town and eventually dispersing into nearby seasonal drains.

Kausar Jehan, a resident of Saadi Town, says that after her husband’s death, she used her savings to build her house. Every monsoon season, however, she lives in constant fear that a flood might strike at any moment. To escape this uncertainty, she now intends to sell her house and move to another society.

Sindh governments response

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had declared that Saadi Town and Saadi Garden were constructed on natural watercourses, and that such settlements “should not exist.”

Resident Rasheed Ahmed called the Sindh Chief Minister’s recent remarks irresponsible, saying, “When these housing schemes were being developed, was the provincial government asleep? We will not allow anyone to destroy our multi-billion-rupee properties.”

Tauqeer Haider, a resident of Saadi Town, says that they pay their property tax to the Malir Cantonment Board, and even the maps of houses built in this society are approved by the Cantonment. He believes the Sindh government and the Cantonment Board should work together to resolve this matter.

Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab, when addressing the consistent urban flooding of the city, proposed an alternative passage for floodwater. "A large drain is needed to protect the societies coming under Saadi Town and the water passage, which would carry water from the Thado Dam and Lath Nadi to the Malir River."

Wahab stated that there is a plan to construct a major drain to channel the water. The tendering process for this project has been completed, but work has not yet started. The Mayor added that efforts are underway to complete the construction of this major rainwater drain before the upcoming monsoon, so that water can reach the Malir River without causing damage to the motorway.

Origins of Saadi Town

Established in the 1980s, Saadi Town was launched by senior Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader and former senator Mohsin Siddiqui through Pak Land Housing Pvt. Ltd. The scheme was approved by the Cantonment Board Malir (CBM), after which thousands of buyers purchased plots and constructed homes. The area has long been prone to inundation.

In 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2017, Thaddo Dam overflowed, sending floodwaters into Saadi Town and nearby societies. In 2013, the flood was so severe that it impacted the Amroha Society and reached as far as Safora Chowk and Rim Jhim Tower. Each time, the water followed its natural course, traveling more than 20 kilometers before crossing the motorway and entering populated neighborhoods.

In the second spell of rain to hit the city this year, limited damage was incurred in the area. Reduced intensity of the flood stream and several kilometers of open land between the motorway and the dam absorbed much of the force.

According to Naveed, a resident of Gulshan-e-Usman, strong boundary walls and the deliberate breaching of one section ensured that only a few inches of water entered the society.

Financial impact

While Saadi Town is now nearly fully inhabited, Saadi Garden, with its 7,000 plots, remains largely vacant. Real estate dealer Imdad Hussain noted that property sales in Scheme 33 have already slowed over the past four years, and fears that the Chief Minister’s statement will further drive down prices.

In 2010, following major flooding, a 120-square-yard plot was valued at Rs800,000 to 1 million. Prices rose steadily after 2018, reaching Rs6–9 million today. Now, property experts predict a significant decline.