APRIL 5

LYARI EXPRESSWAY:
GOVT PUTS THE WHOLE PROJECT ON HOLD

From  Yoiunus URC Karachi 

Good News The evictions have been stopped for time being and it seems the government has put this project in a state of "pending".. The Government also promised it would not implement this project until all affected people are satisfied.

We feel this a victory for all 46 settlements along the Lyari River Bed, along with urban poor in all world.

Yesterday, the community leaders held a meeting here and passed a vote of thanks for all those who supported them in this struggle.

On behalf of the communities of Lyari Nadi Bed I would like to thank all of you who sent appeals (To the president of Pakistan and other concerned authorities) or helped us in other forms. As we understand the only thing, which made a difference in this case was these appeals from all over the world and coverage of this issue in international media. This was a big support.

Also, special thanks for Ted, Ken, Joseph, Cesare Maurice and other friends at ACHR, COHRE, HIC, Hot Line Asia and others (organizations and individuals) who did not mentioned their names.

But I still feel our job is unaccomplished until these communities reach with a very respectable agreement with government.
Thanks a lot

With best regards
M. Younus

_______________________

Urban Resource Centre
3/48 Mualimabad Jamal uddin Afghani Road off Khalid Bin Walid Road Karachi 74800 Pakistan
Tel 92 21 4559275 Fax 92 21 4384288

E-mail urckhi@hinet.net.pk

Web site www.urckarachi.org

and www.achr.net

 

MARCH 26  KARACHI  PAKISTAN   
From the URC Karachi

Dear Friends,

We are trying to understand the situation now. Is government is serious or just trying to breakdown the pressure. The letters, which come from various regional and international organizations and organizations (WE DO NOT KNOW HOW MANY AND FROM WHERE, AS JUST FEW REACHED TO US) were very helpful. WE UNDERSTAND A LOT OF LETTERS CAME FROM ABROAD. THERE IS A BIG THANKS FOR THOSE WHO SENT FAXES/LETTERS OR HELPED IN OTHER FORMS.

Meanwhile the high court has extended stay order up to 2nd April 2002.

Further demolition operation has been stopped now and no demolition reported since 21 March.

Details of the demolition

During 15 to 20 March the city government has bulldozed 67 factories and goodowns. An estimated number of 8000 persons (Both men and women) were working in these factories and goodowns. 

On January 21, 2002 over 1900 small commercial units were bulldozed, An estimate number of 9500 persons were working in these commercial units. Many poor families also used these small commercial units as residential purposes.

We will keep you update on this.

Regards

Younus

_____________________________

Urban Resource Centre

3/48 Mualimabad Jamal uddin Afghani Road off Khalid Bin Walid Road Karachi 74800 Pakistan
Tel 92 21 4559275 Fax 92 21 4384288
E-mail urckhi@hinet.net.pk
Web site www.urckarachi.org
and www.achr.net 

MARCH 21    
The communities and NGOs have postponed  their Human Chain protest call for 23rd March, because the government has taken following steps:
The President has decided to postpone his inauguration of the Lyari Expressway Project on 23rd March.
The city government has invited the communities for talks. The discussions will take place next week.

Pakistan
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Lyari Expressway Update March 12 2002

Update: Further demolition has been stopped and no demolition activity has been reported since Friday 8th March

 KARACHI: Handing over of expressway project to Sindh govt urged

 KARACHI, March 8: An all-party conference here on Friday urged the government to hand over construction work on the Lyari expressway to the provincial or the city government.

 The conference criticized the role of the federally-controlled National Highway Authority (NHA) for "creating the mess" by altering the original layout plan of the project and keeping a complete secrecy on the new design.

 The speakers said they were not against the project but wanted to ensure the protection of all settlements and leased colonies which were built in the outskirt of the Lyari River.

 Over a dozen representatives of political parties and NGOs attended the meeting which was organized by the Lyari Expressway Action Committee, Hasan Aulia Welfare Society and Anjuman-i-Ittehad Mianwali Colony.

 They urged the federal government to stop the NHA from dismantling old settlements and colonies and to desist from meddling in the city-related development projects, because, they said, "it negates the basic concept of provincial autonomy and the idea of transferring power at the grassroots level."

 MQM: Assuring the residents of Hasan Aulia Village and other affected people, deputy organizer of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and former mayor Dr Farooq Sattar said the NHA or any other federal agency would not be allowed to usurp the land of Karachi.

 According to him, the problem began when the federal government decided to hand over the construction work to the NHA, which, he said, was completely ignorant of the ground realities.

 The NHA had even kept the people in dark by maintaining a complete secrecy, he said, adding that "so far nobody knows about details of the project."

 Dr Farooq said an MQM delegation had already left for Islamabad to meet the President in this regard.

 PPP: Former deputy speaker of Sindh Assembly and a PPP leader Nabil Gabol said the expressway project had been approved by the PPP government in 1995. "At that time the project was designed in a way that it could not cause a large scale destruction of residential units," he added.

 The meeting was also addressed by leaders of Awami National Party, National Workers' Party, Qaumi Jamhoori Party, besides representatives of Baloch Ittehad, Baloch Rabita Ittefaq Tehrik, Urban Resource Centre, and Action Committee for Civic Problems. (Daily Dawn 9/03/03)

 _____________________________

Urban Resource Centre

3/48 Mualimabad Jamal uddin Afghani Road off Khalid Bin Walid Road Karachi 74800 Pakistan
Tel 92 21 4559275 Fax 92 21 4384288

E-mail urckhi@hinet.net.pk

Web site www.urckarachi.org   and www.achr.net

MARCH 13  2002

Much has been written about the Lyari Expressway but confusion about the project still exists. 

Munazza Siddiqi presents a guide to understanding the various complications around the Expressway.