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Karachi: February 26, 2025 – The Director General of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), Ishaq Khoro, has stated that illegal constructions will be demolished, and the approval for construction projects will be granted within 45 days. Out of the 64 pending building height approvals, 32 have already been approved, and the remaining will be approved soon. Builders and developers’ licenses will be issued today, and a regional director for SBCA Hyderabad will be appointed in consultation with ABAD. He also emphasized that SBCA and ABAD are aligned on the development of the province, especially Karachi.
He was addressing a gathering during his visit to ABAD House. During the occasion, ABAD Chairman Muhammad Hassan Bakhshi, Senior Vice Chairman Syed Afzal Hamid, Vice Chairman Tariq Aziz, Southern Region Chairman Ahmed Owais Thanvi, and a large number of builders and developers were present.
[26/02, 7:35?pm] turabshah42: DG Ishaq Khoro further stated that the construction sector plays a pivotal role in economic development, and illegal constructions are the major obstacle to the industry’s growth. He assured that SBCA would take action against illegal buildings in consultation with ABAD. He also mentioned that 450 million rupees collected as betterment charges in Hyderabad had been given to WASA for developmental work, but the amount was spent on salaries. It was decided that the amount collected as betterment charges will be spent on development work in the same area from which the charges were collected.
DG Khoro mentioned that action would be taken against officials who cause delays in the approval of construction projects. He also assured that the No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for the announced commercial road construction projects would be issued as soon as possible.
[26/02, 7:35?pm] turabshah42: In his address, ABAD Chairman Hassan Bakhshi stated that illegal constructions have destroyed Karachi’s infrastructure. He urged the DG SBCA to ensure that the development charges collected from specific areas be reinvested in the same areas for developmental work. Bakhshi also recommended that NOCs for construction projects that are 15 to 20 years old should be extended. He further suggested the digitalization of SBCA to ensure transparency in the approval process for construction projects.
Chairman Bakhshi emphasized that both the Sindh government and ABAD are on the same page when it comes to the development of construction projects. He urged that NOCs for construction projects be issued within the minimum possible time. He also mentioned that it is crucial to address the challenges faced by Karachi’s construction industry to ensure that it can play a positive role in the national economy. He requested DG SBCA to issue clear instructions to all officers to eliminate unnecessary obstacles in the progress of construction projects.
[26/02, 7:35?pm] turabshah42: At the end of the session, Senior Vice Chairman of ABAD, Syed Afzal Hamid, expressed gratitude to DG Ishaq Khoro for listening to ABAD’s concerns. He added that ABAD is fully committed to contributing to the country’s prosperity, and the DG’s statements have boosted the morale of builders and developers. He expressed hope that the cooperation between ABAD and SBCA will continue.
Finally, DG SBCA listened to the issues raised by builders and developers and issued immediate instructions for their resolution.
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