Karachi: Seventy-five thousand allottees continue to face delays as Hawksbay Scheme 42, Karachi's largest coastal housing project, remains incomplete after more than 40 years. According to Pasban Democratic Party Chairman Altaf Shakoor, the project has been hindered by the negligence of the Sindh government and the Lyari Development Authority (LDA).

The Hawksbay Scheme 42, initially launched by the Karachi Development Authority in 1984 and later transferred to the LDA in 1996, was aimed at providing affordable housing for low- and middle-income families. Spanning over 6,000 acres along Karachi's coastal belt, it was once considered Asia's largest residential scheme. Despite its potential to accommodate up to 57,000 families, the project remains largely undeveloped and unoccupied.

Altaf Shakoor highlighted the lack of basic utilities, such as water and electricity, which remain unconnected in much of the area. A water line installed in 2008 remains unused due to funding shortages, with an estimated Rs30 billion required to complete the project. The LDA has cited unreleased funds from the Karachi Development Authority as a significant barrier to progress.

The project has also been marred by allegations of corruption and land encroachment. Organized groups, allegedly in collusion with local officials, have illegally occupied and sold portions of the land. Overlapping land claims involve multiple authorities, including the Karachi Port Trust, which has filed suits over jurisdiction issues.

Despite promises from the LDA to address these issues, the scheme's status remains unchanged. Shakoor has urged the Sindh government to intervene and expedite the development process, stressing the need for accountability and action to alleviate the plight of the allottees.