September 22, 2025
Web desk
The second spell of monsoon rains in Karachi has once again sparked controversy around Saadi Town and Saadi Garden, two of Scheme 33’s largest housing societies. Overflow from Thaddo Dam crossed the M9 Motorway, traveling through Gulshan-e-Usman and Saadi Garden before inundating parts of Saadi Town. While drainage efforts continue across thousands of plots, residents remain worried about recurring flood risks.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has declared the two schemes “illegal settlements” built on natural water channels, saying they should not exist. His remarks drew sharp criticism from residents, who argue the provincial government and the Malir Cantonment Board had originally approved the projects and collected taxes for years. Locals say authorities must provide solutions instead of shifting blame.
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab has proposed constructing a major rainwater drain to divert floodwater from Thaddo Dam and Lath Nadi directly to the Malir River. He said the tendering process has been completed, but construction has yet to begin. Residents, however, remain skeptical, pointing to repeated flooding in 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2017 that devastated the area and lowered confidence in long-term solutions.
Property values in the societies are also under threat. Dealers report sales have slowed sharply, with fears that the Chief Minister’s comments could drive prices further down. Once valued at just under Rs1 million in 2010, plots in Saadi Town rose to Rs6–9 million in recent years, but experts now warn of a significant decline if flooding concerns remain unresolved.
