SBCA launches one-window operation

­KARACHI: A new government body has been set up to streamline the approval process for industrial building plans and curb illegal harassment by impostors of the city's building authority, a senior official said on Tuesday.

The Directorate of Industries will provide a one-window operation for industrialists, aiming to approve building plans within 30 days of receiving the necessary documents and drawings, Mushtaq Ibrahim Soomro, the director general of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), told a meeting of the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI).

He said the Directorate would also launch an online system for submitting maps and issuing notifications within three days, and enforce rules to facilitate the industry while ensuring compliance with international standards.

Johar Qandhari, the president of KATI, welcomed the move and expressed concern over the rampant illegal constructions in the city, which he said posed a threat to the safety and environment of the industrial zones. He urged the SBCA to simplify its legal framework and conduct awareness sessions to educate the public about the relevant laws and regulations.