SBCA has wreaked havoc in Karachi, says Justice Amir Hani Muslim

Commission chief comes down hard on SBCA, SITE Board for conversion of industrial plots to commercial

The Supreme Court-mandated Judicial Commission on Water and Sanitation barred on Thursday the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) director-general and SITE Board from giving illegal approval for the use of industrial area on a commercial basis.

Justice (retd) Amir Hani Muslim remarked that the Sindh government doesn't know its working boundaries. “Anyone comes and occupies their land and to construct illegal high-rises. SBCA has wreaked havoc in Karachi. Do you even know where Habib and National banks are constructed on II Chundrigar Road?” Justice (retd) Muslim remarked.



Headed by Justice (retd) Muslim, the water commission hearing was held at the Sindh High Court where Chief Secretary Major (retd) Aazam Suleman, the SBCA DG and other authorities appeared before the commission.

Reprimanding the authorities on using industrial land on Hyderabad’s Auto Bahn Road for commercial purposes, Justice (retd) Muslim questioned how they could allow for the land to be used commercially.

The SBCA DG admitted to being aware of what the authority’s image was.

Justice (retd) Muslim inquired from the SBCA DG if he was implementing the master plan, to which the DG replied in the affirmative.

Coming down hard on the SBCA, the commission pointed out the violation of the master plan from only two months back. “You people don't have any master plan to implement. There is no system of provision for water, electricity and gas. Despite this, you approve the conversion of industrial plots into commercial,” Justice (retd) Muslim said, adding that even the land of the Board of Revenue was permitted to be used commercially.



"How much public land have you approved to be used commercially?” he questioned. Reprimanding the Sindh government, he said its performance was also poor. The Sindh government doesn't know its working boundaries, he observed, giving an example of plazas that have been constructed on drains.

The chief secretary requested for more time to oversee the matter in this regard.

The commission directed that industrial land should not be turned into commercial land. It barred the SBCA DG and SITE Board from giving illegal approval for such conversions.

The commission adjourned the hearing till August 27.