^{“Sindh Government’s Karachi Affected Markets Relief Committee (KAMRC) will reconstruct the 19 markets set ablaze on 28th December, 2009 with cooperation and consultation of provincial and local government. For the reconstruction work, consultant and builders have been selected”, informed by the member and spokesman of Karachi Affected Markets Relief Committee, A.Q. Khalil, to journalists after the meeting of Relief Committee held on 3rd March, 2010 at KCCI. He further informed that after initial deliberation for reconstruction of affected markets, 200 million estimates is expected, however, final decision will be made after the recommendation of the consultant. A.Q. Khalil apprised that a meeting of KAMRC was held under the chairmanship of the Committee’s Chairman and Advisor to Chief Minister Sindh on Investment, M. Zubair Motiwala, wherein, Chairman Businessmen Group, Siraj Kassam Teli, President, Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Abdul Majid Haji Muhammad, CPLC Chief, Ahmed Chinoy, former President-KCCI, A.Q. Khalil, Nominee of Federal Finance Ministry and Additional Accountant General AGPR, Fauzia Saleem, Additional Finance Secretary Government of Sindh, Saeed Ahmed Awan, District Officer (Coordination) City District Government, Syed Mukarram Sultan Bukhari participated in the meeting. Committee was informed that till 20th January, 2010, 2806 affectees approached KAMRC for filing their claims against their goods burnt to ashes in the tragic fire incident happened on 28th December, 2009 destroying markets at M.A. Jinnah Road, whereby Federal & Provincial Government ensured the provision of Rupees 3.5 Billion out of which Rs. 2.5 Billion are transferred to the Relief Committee. Spokesman informed that 1616 claims estimates were between 0.1 million to 1.5 million, whereas 139 claims were of amount above 1.5 million where assessed, scrutinized and decisded after undertaking of affectees and in the presence of market representatives. According to latest information, till date, payment of claims worth around 1.38 billion is in process likely to be completed by second week of March, 2010. The Committee, for relief and rehabilitation activities for affectees expressed gratitude to Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry and termed the assessment, scrutiny of claims and instant payment decisions as historic and appreciable and also recorded their confidence in KCCI. The Committee took notice of the complaints of affectees for delay in the reconstruction of affected markets and decided that 19 affected markets will be reconstructed in the light of instructions of Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Governor Sindh, Dr. Ishrat Ul Ibad Khan, with consultation and productive suggestions of provincial and local government and heritage department and on the recommendation of Construction Committee and as per the desire and promise of the government, the affected will be settled on their old places. Protection of heritage buildings will be ensure during the reconstruction. A.Q. Khalil said that for construction, appointment of consultant and builders is principally approved. He invited ABAD and others institutions for volunteer services in this regard and consult the Committee. He, on the occasion, expressed thanks to Provincial Home Minister, Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza, Provincial Minister for Local Government, Agha Siraj Durrani and City Government for offering the services of team professional construction experts. After the decision of KAMRC, a great number of affectees visited KCCI and extended their thanks to Chairman, Businessmen Group, Siraj Kassam Teli and Advisor to Chief Minister Sindh and Chairman-KAMRC, Muhammad Zubair Motiwala, Construction Committee, Provincial and local Government, City Government and KCCI for supporting the Committee to take decision for reconstruction of affected markets.}

^{The 19 affected/ burnt buildings include Market Quarters Plot No. MR-2/27 (Junaid Mansion), MR-2/28 (Rasheed Building), MR-2/29 (Lilla Ram Building), MR-2/31 (Ahmed Food), MR-2/38 (Yunus Market), MR-2/39 (Tayyabi Market), MR-2/40 (New Marvi Market), MR-2/41&42 (Marvi Chamber), MR-2/43 (Hazari Impex), MR-2/44 (Qutbi Market), MR-2/45 (Saleh Market), MR-2/46 (Iqbal Market), MR-2/40 (Ismail Market), MR-2/50 (MashaAllah Market, Heritage Bldg), MR-2/51 (Ferozpurwala Market, Heritage Bldg), MR-2/52 (Sheba Centre), MR-2/53 (Akbar Market, Heritage Bldg), MR-2/54 (Quettawala Market), MR-144 (Allahwala Cap, Heritage Bldg) situated at Marriott Road, Bolten Market and adjoining area at M.A. Jinnah Road. For this purpose, tenders were opened on 4th February, 2010, wherein apart from consultants and engineering firms, a large number of registered contractors also participated. Relevant to mention here that in Ashura Incident, 29 markets were severely damaged and destroyed out of which 10 repairable buildings/ markets were repaired and handed over by the then City Nazim Karachi Syed Mustafa Kamal, whereas 19 buildings being declared dangerous will be reconstructed.}