SBCA imposes ban on construction of high rise buildings in Karachi

By
Suleman Saadat

KARACHI: Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has imposed a ban on the construction of multi-storied/high-rise buildings beyond ground plus two storeys in the metropolis, said a notification issued on Thursday evening.

With immediate effect, all constructions beyond ground plus two in Karachi will be considered illegal by the authorities concerned.

The notification is signed by SBCA Director General Agha Maqsood Abbas on May 23.

Earlier, The Sindh High Court ordered the SBCA to seize the issuance of new no objection certificates (NOCs) for high-rises in the Mirpurkhas district.

The Hyderabad Circuit Bench further ordered the SBCA to create a master plan for Mirpurkhas city before the ban on high-rises could be lifted.

The order came after a petition was filed by a private citizen Abdul Nasir Khan, a resident of Mirpurkhas district.

During the hearing, a report prepared by the Mirpurkhas commissioner was submitted in the Sindh High Court, according to which 16 high-rises had been built so far in Mirpurkhas.