SHC moved for enforcement of Karachi’s strategic development master plan

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued notices to the secretary of local governments, the Karachi Development Authority and others on a plea seeking the enforcement of the notified Karachi Strategic Development Plan 2020 to harmonise the existing town planning laws.

Petitioner M. Tariq Mansoor submitted that a separate master plan authority -- Sindh Master Plan Authority -- was established in light of Supreme Court orders in February 2020. However, despite the lapse of several years neither the statutory act has been passed nor rules have been framed by the provincial government, he said.

He further submitted that effective and sustainable implementation of the Karachi strategic development plan under the law has not been implemented in letter and spirit, which is leading to bad governance and functional anarchy in the city.

The counsel said that as per Clause 1.8 of the subject strategic development plan, the operational time span for the plan extends to the year 2020 within the scope of the Pakistan 2030 vision, while this period was basically assigned in view of the feasibility of achieving the plan objectives and making available the required resources in the foreseeable future.

According to the petitioner, the instant plan as per its Clause 1.8 will further extend to the year 2030, under the federal government’s 2030 vision, to cover the city region that includes parts of the surrounding districts of Thatta, Jamshoro and Lasbela.

He said that despite the notification of the Karachi master plan the same is still held in abeyance due to bad governance and functional chaos in the city, which is detrimental to the rights of the citizens.

The high court was requested to direct the Sindh government to enforce the notified Karachi Strategic Development Plan 2020 in letter and spirit and harmonise it with the town planning regulations and existing laws of Karachi, Malir, Lyari Development authorities as well as cantonment boards. A high court division bench, headed by Justice Salahuddin Panhwar, after the preliminary hearing of the petition, issued notices to the secretary of local governments, KDA and others and called their comments on the next date of the hearing.