Karachi: The Sindh government has announced its intention to demolish all illegal constructions within the city, a news source reported. Local Government Secretary Roshan Sheikh, during a recent meeting with a delegation of the Association of Builders & Developers (ABAD), stated that the ‘exponential growth’ of these structures was responsible for causing approval-delays of the projects developed by ABAD.
The secretary said that the provincial government would raze all illegal structures identified by the association. He assured the delegation that the officials concerned would set up a one-window system to enable early issuance (within 10 days) of all construction approvals.
Former ABAD chairperson Muhammad Hassan Bakhshi briefed the meeting on the illegal constructions present in the city as well as their impact on human lives. He stated that the authorities concerned could eliminate the menace of illegal constructions and save the lives of thousands of Karachiites with the help of ABAD.
Further, he requested Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) Director General (DG) Zafar Ahsan to form an ABAD-led task force for stopping illegal constructions, and promoting legal constructions and cleanliness in the city.
The secretary also announced that Sindh would soon remove the role of sub-registrar’s office by introducing e-registration of properties. He added that the provincial government would sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with ABAD in two days’ time for initiating action against illegal constructions and enhancing ease of doing business.
In response, ABAD Chairman Mohsin Sheikhani said that substandard and illegal constructions were a big problem in the city – causing human catastrophe in the shape of deaths of the citizens. He added that 30% of Karachi’s waste comprised of construction materials. He claimed that ABAD had invested in proper disposal of waste as the authority wanted a clean city.
The LG secretary expressed his wish for ABAD to become a legal construction pressure group. He added that the association would have the provincial government’s support on this front.
