'SBCA behind all illegal constructions'

Stating that the Liaquatabad building collapse was not the first such incident, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader and Sindh Baitul Maal chief Hunaid Lakhani claimed that Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) is behind all illegal constructions on Saturday.

Lakhani made these claims while disbursing relief cheques to the residents of the building that caved in this week. He stated that the monetary aid was not a replacement for their loss but just assistance from Baitul Maal to help them rent a living space. “The purpose of the Baitul Maal is to help the people in times of need,” he added.

Alleging that the Sindh government, through its support of the SBCA, is responsible for the tragedy, Lakhani argued that city’s residential areas should be reconstructed. “The population is growing and the city is expanding, so the provincial government must look into the lack of space for housing.”

He added that the citizens continuously face hurdles when seeking approval for construction. “The SBCA, Pakistan Peoples Party and the Sindh government do not care to serve the people, but instead have tasked their officials to make money.”

He claimed it was a known fact that the SBCA ensured that construction work was carried out without approval so that it could continue to make money.

Meanwhile, terming welfare and social organisations the frontline of the government, Sindh Governor Imran Ismail gave a cheque of Rs5.5 million to the Kiran Foundation for the provision of accommodation to residents of the building that collapsed in Lyari last month. The incident claimed as many as 22 lives.

Ismail claimed that Pakistan stood first on the list of countries that engage in welfare and lauded the effort of the nation’s welfare organisations in aiding this.

He maintained that Prime Minister Imran Khan was aware of the issues faced by the residents and had directed him to visit the Kiran Foundation to review the re-settlement process for the displaced residents.

He further disclosed that Bahria Town chairperson Malik Riaz had also promised to provide 80-yard plots for the displaced residents.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 12^th, 2020.