SHC moved for enforcing Karachi Strategic Development Plan

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed the provincial local government secretary, the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) and others to file comments on a petition seeking the enforcement of the notified Karachi Strategic Development Plan 2020 to harmonise the existing town planning laws.

Petitioner M Tariq Mansoor said the Sindh Master Plan Authority was established in the light of the Supreme Court’s February 2020 orders. However, he added, despite the lapse of several years, neither has the statutory act been passed nor have the rules been framed by the provincial government.

Mansoor said that effective and sustainable implementation of the 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.

He said that according to Clause 1.8 of the subject development plan, the operational time span for the plan extends to the year 2020 within the scope of the Pakistan 2030 vision. 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, he added.

He also said that the instant plan according to its Clause 1.8 would 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.

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 residents, he added.

He requested the high court to direct the provincial government to enforce the notified development plan in letter and spirit, and harmonise it with the town planning regulations and existing laws of the city, the Malir and Lyari development authorities, and the cantonment boards.

An SHC division bench headed by Justice Mohammad Iqbal Kalhoro directed the provincial law officer to file comments on behalf of the respondents before the next hearing.It is pertinent to mention that political parties and civic rights organisations have also challenged the recent amendments to the Karachi Building and Town Planning Regulations 2002 with regard to commercial use of residential and amenity properties in the city.

Filing petitions with the Sindh High Court, the petitioners submitted that the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) had issued a notification amending the Karachi Building and Town Planning Regulations. They said the amendments would violate the basic rights of citizens and open floodgates of commercialisation of residential areas. They submitted that the the SBCA’s amendment removes vital protections for residents by stripping away the long-standing process that allowed for public objections to zoning changes.

By allowing commercial activity in peaceful neighbourhoods without prior notice or input from those affected, the amendment risks undermining the right to privacy, clean air, and a safe living environment.