CM Sindh seeks right of way to revive KCR

SBCA launches online system to ease process of getting construction permits

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said that Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) could only be started if the federal government agrees to hand over the right of way to the provincial government.

He said this on Saturday while speaking to the media after the inauguration of Automated Single Window Facility for Automation of Construction Permits' in Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) under Ease of Doing Business. He was accompanied by Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani, Planning and Development Department Chairperson Naheed Shah, Home Secretary Kazi Kabir, SBCA Director General Iftikhar Qaimkhani and others.

Shah said that he had not received the order of the Supreme Court (SC) as yet and maintained he would implement it when he received it.

Speaking about the launch of the KCR project within 30 days [as directed by SC], the CM said that the federal government was reluctant to hand over the right of way for KCR to the provincial government.

"In 2016 I wrote a letter to the prime minister with the request to issue directives for handing over the right of way for KCR and since then I have made similar requests repeatedly but all in vain," said Shah asking that how was it possible to start the project in such circumstances.

Responding to a question, he said that he and his party leadership had raised their voices against the federal government's failure to achieve their revenue collection targets, but the federal ministers would begin singing their rehearsed tune of 'not giving NRO [National Reconciliation Ordinance]' to the opposition.

"Who has asked them for NRO? We are just reminding you [the Centre] to improve efficiency and achieve your revenue targets, because of your inefficiency, the provinces are facing financial hardships," said Shah.

Answering another question regarding 70% illegal constructions in the city, Shah said the 70% illegal buildings were not built in the past 10 years. "There should have been a survey of such buildings and their occupants so that alternative arrangements could be made before taking any action," he said.

When asked about the Sindh governor, the CM said that he shared a good working relationship with him. "The governor has a constitutional role and if he will be working within his specified role there will be no issue," he added.

Referring to disappearances of wheat from godowns, the CM said that anti-corruption and the National Accountability Bureau have begun taking action. "Whosoever has stolen the wheat will face consequences,"

Earlier, the CM formally inaugurated SBCA's Single Window Facility - eConstruct-Online Construction Permit Approval System. He visited different automated systems established at SBCA and was briefed by relevant officials.

The CM said that the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business (EDB) report was a salient index with economic and political consequences.

"One the political side, it is an index on which countries compete, and against which a government's success is measured," said Shah. He added there was enough evidence to show that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows were higher for economies faring better on the Doing Business Index. According to Shah, Pakistan's ranking on this index improved by 11 points last year after having dropped for almost a decade. The CM claimed that Sindh had contributed significantly to this as Karachi carries 65% weight in Pakistan's ranking, while Lahore's weight is 35%. He credited the Sindh government for having implemented reforms for EDB.

Welcoming the World Bank's support in the reform process across departments, the CM said the World Bank had guided in prioritising and implementing reforms helping build capacity of the government's departments.

Facilitating ease of doing business

The time required to get construction permits has now reduced to 30 days instead of 60 and for completion certificates, 30 days instead of 45. SBCA has also exempted three no objection certificates (NOCs) and reduced procedures to get construction permits from 15 to seven.

It will help strengthen institutional coordination among local government agencies and the private sector besides providing facilities like online submission of a plan through eConstruct, online fee payment through ePay. The owner can track his submitted file through eTrac and receive notifications via email and SMS service. The users can avail these facilities through the SBCA Smart Mobile App.

One of the 10 indicators measured on the index is 'dealing with construction permits' and in Sindh, this comes under the SBCA. From 141 in 2018, the indicator went down to 156 in 2019 on the Doing Business Index.

The online system will electronically communicate with land-owning authorities for land title re-verification. It will also ensure all citizen complaints regarding the single window facility are addressed timely. 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 12^th, 2019.