SBCA Forms A Task Force with Sindh Anti-Corruption Department to Demolish Illegal Buildings in Karachi

Update (21st January): The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has recently released a list of housing schemes in Karachi that are labelled safe for property transactions. The list mentions the names of 81 housing projects marked safe. Get to know the projects below. 

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The urban landscape of Karachi is made up of several low-income neighbourhoods that have been either declared illegal or are not approved by the relevant authorities. These illegally constructed buildings and slum settlements are also known to house criminals and be a hub of criminal activities as well. Over the past decade, such settlements were neglected in plain sight, and no official action or correspondence was witnessed in this regard. Thankfully, the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has decided to form a task force in association with Sindh Anti-Corruption Establishment for demolishing illegally constructed properties in Karachi.

Let’s find out how this task force will crackdown on the slum and encroachment mafia and restore the beauty and glory of Karachi!

Major Steps Taken by the SBCA to Demolish Illegal Buildings in Karachi

During the first half of 2019, the SBCA proposed to launch a breakdown against illegally constructed properties in Karachi. The authority identified several areas in the megalopolis with unapproved high-rises, and the list comprises Shanti Nagar, Liaquatabad, Manzoor Colony, Orangi Town, Gulbahar, Mehmoodabad, PIB Colony, and other nearby areas. 

Another news source has revealed that the first phase of the operation will target central parts of Karachi, particularly Federal B Area, Hussainabad, Liaquatabad, and Sharifabad. 

Until now, the task force has sealed around 21 illegally constructed buildings in Jamshed Town. Furthermore, to ensure that construction work does not resume in these zones in the future either, the building authority has listed the help of local police stations and Pakistan Rangers. Addressing the roots of the issue, SBCA Director-General said, “Developers of illegal commercial buildings are responsible for ruining the city’s infrastructure and the practice will be abolished.”

Moreover, SBCA encouraged the general public to join hands for a better and quality lifestyle and share the details of such ragged and decaying buildings in their neighbourhoods that are on the verge of collapsing. The details can easily be communicated on the contact number given below. 

Contact Number for the SBCA: +91-21-9923-2354

Demolishing Squad for the Sindh Building Control Authority Anti-Encroachment Drive

In order to solve structural problems and to enhance the lifestyle of Karachittes, SBCA has formed a specialised team that includes extremely expert architects, exceptionally skillful engineers, and a well-trained labour force that will work on-ground to solve these issues rapidly. The squad will be responsible for:

• Identifying and demolishing illegally constructed buildings/areas/portions
• Coordinating with local police stations and residents of the area
• Ensuring that no further constructions will be carried out in the sealed zones

Furthermore, the DG SBCA also revealed the names of the people included in the task force and communicated that the progress would be overlooked by a senior director-level officer of the SBCA. He also suggested a few names for the announced roles, including Jamil Memon, Sarfaraz Hussain, Munawar Siddiqui, and Ashkaar Dawar. 

The SBCA DG Zafar Ahsan also revealed that Sindh Anti-Corruption Establishment and several other agencies are also on-board with the authority on this initiative. He further added that “SBCA Director Demolition Abdul Sajjad would also accompany members of the task force during operations against illegal constructions in the city.”

List of Safe Cooperative Housing Schemes in Karachi 

As per the data in the table below, out of 200 housing societies in the city, the Sindh Building Control Authority has marked around 81 societies and declared them entirely safe for investment in Karachi. These housing schemes are additionally verified by relevant governmental departments, society offices, and are deemed safe for the public to buy plots.

Sharing some useful tips on property transactions, the SBCA has also recommended that investors and property hunters ask for a “forwarding letter” from the sellers/vendors of the said cooperative housing society to further ensure the legitimacy of the project. It will help buyers in making sure that the plot belongs to the person selling it. The SBCA has also encouraged buyers to visit the Master Plan Group Offices to verify if the construction plan has the seal approval from the authority.

The list of safe cooperative housing schemes in Karachi, as communicated by the SBCA, includes:

Furthermore, out of the list of 81 societies marked safe for investment in Karachi, the SBCA has also approved a total of six layout plans including:

• Layout plan of Survey No 631 Deh Joreji in Bin Qasim Town
• Layout plan of Survey No 217B, 217C, 217D Deh Tapo Malir
• Layout plan of Survey Nos 292, 296, 297, 385, 387, 490 of Deh Mahl
• Layout plan of Survey Nos 289, 290, 291, 293, 322 to 330, 474, 475 of Deh Mahl
• Layout plan of Survey Nos 546 & 547 Deh Joreji in Bin Qasim Town
• Layout plan of Survey Nos 485, 486 to 498 & 499 of Deh Joreji

A few more societies that have gotten the seal of approval from the SBCA are:

Possible Outcomes of the Anti-Encroachment Drive Launched by the Sindh Building Control Authority

Karachi majorly suffers from congested and jam-packed traffic caused by poorly planned constructions and encroachments, and because of inadequate road systems. The city featured no low-cost housing schemes in the past, which led to an increase in slum areas and illegally constructed properties. Recently, the SBCA has taken notice of such deficit which is significantly affecting the economic and business activities in the city on the one hand, while simultaneously creating piles of problems for residents. This initiative launched by the SBCA will help bring a whole new level of development and growth to the city. 

To begin with, Karachi is housing more than 600 slum areas with extremely low levels of lifestyle. These zones are not only hosting illegal houses but are also prone to shelter people involved in illicit activities such as mugging and assault. The campaign will also help in curbing criminal activities and make Karachi a safer place for everyone to explore. 

Not to mention, illegally constructed buildings in Karachi are also negatively affecting the nearby villages since many farmers who earn their livelihood by agriculture have no access to clean water for irrigation. This is because these illegal constructions are also involved in electricity, gas, and water theft. As a result, a large number of farmers have found refuge in using sewage water to grow crops. The crops produced in such a manner are labelled hazardous for human consumption and extremely unsafe for the natural environment. This and everything else associated with the existence of unapproved properties in Karachi will be resolved shortly after the drive becomes completely functional.

Besides, people living in slum areas lack access to civil services and have fewer or no basic social resources. After the drive, the people living here might migrate back to their home city or to legally constructed areas, and it is only natural that their living standard will improve. Meanwhile, people who are living with uncertain rental agreements will not have to go through sudden eviction processes.

Ever wondered what the high-rise law in Sindh says? Go check out our recently published blog. 

What do you think of this initiative? Share your views with us at blog@zameen.com. Subscribe to our newsletters as we will keep updating this blog as soon as more progress is achieved. Keep following us on our Facebook page. 

Image Credits: All the images in this blog including cover image is taken from the official page of SBCA