Karachi: Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) organised a seminar on the issues of property, housing and the prevention and remedies to improper planning seen in private and cooperative housing societies in Karachi, a news source reported. The seminar was held in collaboration with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
Speaking on the occasion, the SBCA Director General Iftikhar Qaimkhani said that there are several areas where issues are being seen. One is that the land acquired from the government for a housing scheme does not reach the targeted group, which causes the homeless to stay the same while the land is acquired by people already living comfortably. The other issue is the revision on initial planning, layouts and master plans, which are a violation.
Tariq Qureshi, deputy director of the Anti-Corruption Establishment, while speaking at the conference, said that sometimes housing schemes were also announced without having land in hand. He emphasised the need for all relevant departments including NAB, KDA, KMC and revenue departments to be on the same page so that such problems including issues of double allotments and title change could be stopped.
The Dean of NED University’s department of architecture and planning Dr Noman Ahmed underlined the need for the resolution of issues with distribution, development and governance of land. He said that land distribution should be improved so that people living below the poverty line can have some relief.
