SC maintains ban on construction of high-rises

Apex court summons Mustafa Kamal, seeks explanation on allotment of 50 acres of land of treatment plant

KARACHI: The apex court has summoned Mustafa Kamal, chairperson of the Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP), tomorrow [Wednesday] to explain how and under what authority 50 acres of land of a treatment plant in Mehmoodabad was allotted or leased to individuals during his tenure as mayor of Karachi.



During a hearing of a matter regarding non-functioning of the water filtration and treatment plants, a three-member Supreme Court bench was informed that of a total 129 acres of land reserved for the plant, 50 acres was illegally leased and encroached upon. Another 50 acres was leased out by then mayor Kamal to certain persons.

The petitioner, Shahab Usto, said this had badly affected operations of the treatment plant.

High-rises

The apex court also maintained its earlier ban on the construction of high-rise and multi-storey buildings without issuance of approved building plans and proper water supply and sewerage systems.

The Association of the Builders and Developers had approached the apex court, pleading to lift its ban on construction of new high-rise and multi-storey buildings in the city without issuance of proper building approval plans.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar observed that it was the duty of the state to supply water through pipelines to the citizens, not to the builders. He added that while the builders enjoyed a constitutional right to do business, "the right to do business could not be preferred [over] the right to life".

The bench members remarked that the issue of water in Karachi had taken the shape of a water bomb. The bench noted that due to massive encroachments on amenity spaces and non-supply of drinking water, residents were moving to other cities.



They noted that the authorities concerned had failed to take notice of this practice, therefore, the chief minister will be asked to answer why a large number of high-rise and multi-storey buildings were allowed to be built in the city without proper planning when the people were already thirsting for drinking water.

The judges questioned the chief secretary and other officials why the government was not establishing new cities instead of allowing new high-rise buildings to be built if space was shrinking in Karachi.

They made it clear to the officers that the interests of the country and Karachi will not be allowed to be compromised.