'Short-term leasing of KW&SC land against public interest'

KMC opposition leader says land should not be treated as commercial property

KARACHI:

Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Opposition Leader Saifuddin Advocate has strongly opposed the proposed short-term leasing of Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KW&SC) land for commercial purposes, describing the move as fundamentally flawed, against public interest and potentially inconsistent with judicial precedents.

In a letter to the KW&SC Managing Director, Saifuddin said the corporation's land constituted public assets acquired and allocated for water supply, sewerage and related municipal services.

He said such land was meant for the corporation's operational, administrative, infrastructure and public-service requirements and should not be treated as commercial property for private business interests.

Referring to a previous case involving a club established by water utility employees on Water Board land and used for wedding functions, Saifuddin said the matter had reached the Supreme Court, which ordered demolition of the structure. He said the precedent demonstrated that using utility land for purposes unrelated to its core functions could raise serious legal and public-interest concerns. He maintained that the proposed leasing of such land raised similar concerns and required careful examination in light of judicial orders.