Residential plots get green light for commercialisation

KARACHI:

A seven-year ban on converting residential plots for commercial use across Sindh has been lifted following recent rulings by the Supreme Court and Federal Constitutional Court, paving the way for the resumption of land-use conversions in Karachi, Hyderabad and other parts of the province, subject to zoning laws and approval by competent authorities.

The Sindh Master Plan Authority has withdrawn its 2019 notification banning the conversion of residential plots for commercial purposes, directing all relevant institutions to implement the court orders in letter and spirit. The authority said the Supreme Court's 2018 and 2019 decisions and the Sindh Building Control Authority's restraining notification had effectively been set aside and cancelled.

Officials clarified that withdrawal of the ban does not mean every residential plot will automatically become eligible for commercial use. Any change in land use will still require compliance with relevant laws, zoning rules and the master plan, as well as a formal NOC and approval from the competent authority.

The court has also made it clear that amenity plots, including parks, hospitals, schools, mosques, playgrounds and graveyards, cannot under any circumstances be used for commercial or residential purposes.