KMC opposition leader demands SBCA DG’s removal over town planning rules amendments

The Pakistan Peoples Party’s Sindh government aims at destroying the already shaken Karachi through amendments to Karachi Building and Town Planning Regulations.

The leader of the opposition in the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) City Council, Saifuddin Advocate, said this in a statement issued on Friday.

The City Council opposition leader, who belongs to the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), said the amendments by the Sindh government were aimed at benefitting the influential elite and sheltering illegitimate constructions in the megacity.

He added that instead of transforming the Katchi Abadies in the mega city into modern neighbourhoods, the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) was converting the settled areas in the city into Katchi Abadies.

Demanding removal of the SBCA director general (DG), Saifuddin said the DG had approved several amendments to the building regulations through a notification on March 13 while totally ignoring the elected local government.

He added that amendments in the Rule 27 had kicked out the land used for educational, health and welfare activities from the amenity list. The amendment in Regulation 232 introduced another category of residential-cum-commercial under which the residential land could be used for business purposes, the JI leader said.

He stated that another amendment allowed the use of residential plots measuring more than 400 square yards situated on roads having the width of 80 feet for educational, health and recreational purposes, that include eateries.

He dubbed the amendments as ambush against the megacity that was already marooned. The amendments would convert the megalopolis into the worst city, he added.

The City Council opposition leader said that the amendments would open a floodgate for commercial activities on residential plots and neighbourhoods. He said the JI would use all available forums against this move.