Karachi: Chairman Association of Builders and Developers of Pakistan (ABAD) Mohsin Sheikhani wrote a letter to Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah — warning him about substandard construction in Karachi, a news source reported. In his letter, the chairman said that millions of lives were at stake because developers were ignoring the rules put in place by the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), allowing them to construct illegal and substandard structures across the city.
He pointed out that illegal construction work has been going on in Karachi for years as a result of non-compliance of the Sindh Building Control Ordinance (SBCO) 1979. These unapproved buildings could collapse, leading people to lose their life’s savings and even their lives.
Sheikhani added that the SBCO laws were essential but were not being implemented properly. He pointed out that section 4 of SBCO 1979 refers to the appointment of an expert as the head of the SBCA, and suggested that the government act on this edict promptly. The government of Sindh and ABAD had previously decided to form a committee to conduct surveys in the city of Karachi in order to identify illegal construction activities and facilitate action against them.
He wrote similar letters to Chief Secretary Sindh Mumtaz Ali Shah, Advisor to Chief Minister on Law Murtaza Wahab, Sindh Minister for Local Government Nasir Hussain Shah, Chairman Sindh Disaster Management Authority Syed Salman Shah and Chairman National Disaster Management Authority Lt. Gen. Muhammad Afzal.
