Karachi: Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD) has appealed the federal and provincial governments to “save the construction industry” in a publication. The publication contains a list of measures that ABAD feels are needed to provide a boost to the construction industry.
The publication noted that 500,000 people have been rendered jobless because of the ban on high-rise buildings in Karachi and requests both the federal and provincial governments to submit an undertaking for the resolution of the water crisis in Karachi before the Supreme Court, which was the primary reason why the Supreme Court banned the high-rise buildings in the city.
ABAD has also appealed the authorities to increase Karachi’s share of water and establish desalination plants.
Other demands include:
Restoration of Fixed Tax Regime (FTR) for builders and developers.
Legislation for digitalisation of property documents’ registration.
Appointment of nominees of private sector to development authorities and utility agencies.
Application of FBR Taxation Policy for REITs to everyone in construction and development business.
Establishment of land bank and disposal of government land through public auction.
Preparation of a Master Plan 2050 for all cities with population exceeding 3 million.
Duty-free import of construction machinery and technology.
The requests specifically for the Sindh government include:
Removal of “unfair regulatory discriminations.
Application of charges, taxes, and duties applicable on REITs to everyone else.
One window e-system for approval of building plans
Legislation to remove construction and housing from service industry.
Removal of unnecessary NOCs for construction permissions.
An autonomous authority for verification of property titles.
Development board for rehabilitation of katchi abadis.
