Sindh govt's U-TURN: The letter written by the Land Utiliszation Department has been withdrawn.

 (Sindh Tribune) : The Sindh government withdrew a letter to the federal government in July on the issue of building and developing new cities on islands near Karachi.

 The letter has been written to the Secretary Cabinet Division by the Secretary Land Utilization of Sindh and the Land Utilization Department Sindh has informed the Federal Government of the decision.

 According to the Board of Revenue, in the light of the decision of the Sindh Cabinet, the letter written in July has been withdrawn. The coastal islands of Sindh are the property of the provincial government.

The letter issued by the Sindh Land Utilization Department said that the island was being handed over for the public interest at the request of the federal government.

 According to the text of the letter, the interests of locals and fishermen will be protected in the construction on the island.

It may be recalled that an ordinance issued by the President on the islands on September 2, 2020 has come to light recently, after which a new dispute has arisen between Sindh and the federation.

According to the Pakistan Island Development Authority Ordinance 2020, the coastal areas administered under the Territorial Waters and Maritime Zones Act 1976 will be owned by the federation and all the islands of Sindh including Bundal and Budu will be owned by the federal government. The Pakistan Islands Development Authority will be set up with its headquarters in Karachi while regional offices will be set up elsewhere.

 According to the ordinance, the authority will be empowered to take possession of movable and immovable property and no court or institution will be able to question the legality of the action taken under the ordinance or the act of the authority.

 The text of the ordinance states that the authority will be empowered to levy all levies, taxes, duties, fees and transfer charges on immovable property.

 The ordinance states that a present or retired officer equivalent to the rank of Lieutenant General of the Army may also be appointed Chairman, while the term of office of the Chairman shall be four years, which may be extended once.