Association of Builders and Developers of Pakistan (ABAD) and Military Lands and Cantonments ML & C) Karachi Region have on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote construction industry, which can create job opportunities for thousands of people.
The MoU was signed by Chairman ABAD Mohsin Sheikhani and Director ML&C Karachi Region Adil Rafi Siddiqui here during a well organized ceremony in the lush green lawn of Cantonment Board of Clifton’s office. Director General ML&C Major General Syed Hasnat Amir Gilani, Senior Vice Chairman Sohail Warind, Vice Chairman Abdul Rehman, Chairman Southern Region ABAD Muhammad Ali Ratadia, former Chairman ABAD Muhammad Hassan Bakshi, Convener Younus Lakhani, Additional MEO Karachi Circle Arfeen Zubair Chaudhary, MEO Karachi Muhammad Farooq, Deputy CEO Clifton Dr. Muhammad Rizwan, CEO Hyderabad Mr. Arfa Wahid and others were present on this occasion.
Addressing the ceremony DG ML&C Major General Syed Hasnat Amir said that with the active participation and consultations of ABAD unified building Byelaws and One Window Operation have been unveiled today and will be in effect from 14th August, 2020. He said that ML&C Karachi Region has honor to be the first to unveil Unified Building Byelaws in line with suggestions of ABAD and building byelaws of Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and Lahore Development Authority (LDA). He said that the sole purpose of MoU with ABAD is to promote construction industry by facilitating builders and developers. Major General Hasnat said that after beginning of One Window Operation no government department will be able to blackmail private sector builders and developers, who are facing multiple problems from various government departments.
Speaking on this occasion Chairman ABAD Mohsin Sheikhani said that almost all countries are giving due attention to construction industry because this is the only industry which can generate thousands of jobs and immense growth to GDP as when the construction industry booms, more than 70 allied industries are also running in full swing. He said that those countries have gained economic momentum who are supporting construction industry. He lamented that no attention has been given to construction industry in Pakistan since last 70 years. He said that ABAD was demanding digitalization and One Window Operation for construction industry since many years. He said that introduction of unified byelaws and One Window System in ML&C Karachi region is a best gift to our new generation.
Addressing the gathering Director ML&C Karachi Adil Rafi Siddiqui presented salient features of Unified Building Byelaws and said Unified Byelaws and One Window Operation is introduced on the instruction of DG ML&C and proposals of ABAD. He said a construction project will be approved within 30 days under these laws and if not granted permission within the stipulated time frame, the application will be deemed to be approved automatically. He said that special facilities will provided for the project of six and above six floors. Special software is being developed which will decide eligibility of project according to byelaws.
