Illegal construction: KBCA’s compliance report to be verified

SHC asks architects’ body to check if court directives were adhered to.

KARACHI: A division bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC) ordered the chairman of the Council of Architects and Town Planners to verify the compliance report submitted by Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA) officials.

The officials had submitted a report that SHC orders had been followed in the case of a building allegedly constructed illegally in Saddar Town.

The bench, comprising Justice Musheer Alam and Justice Syed Zakir Hussain, ordered the chairman to appoint experienced and qualified people who could confirm the builders adhered to the provisions under chapters 10 and 13 of the Building Regulations, 2002. These rules relate to necessary open space, internal air walls and parking places necessary in a commercial or residential complex.

The bench earlier perused a report submitted by engineer Benish Shabbir, who is the deputy controller of buildings for the KBCA’s structure section II in Saddar Town.

The report stated that orders of the court have been complied with and in case of any mis-statement, the officer submitting the report shall be held directly responsible.

The bench sought the report in 30 days and adjourned the proceedings for a date to be fixed later by the office of the court.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd, 2011.