20000215

Panel to recommend

action against

illegal constructions

in Karachi

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The Sindh Governor on Monday set up a six-member committee to recommend within two months action in respect of 266 illegally constructed buildings in Karachi.

The committee comprises Engr. Nazim Haji, Maqbool Rahimtoola, architect Arif Hasan, director general of the KDA, chief building controller of the Karachi Building Control Authority, and deputy commissioners of the respective districts.

Governor Daudpota has also directed Housing and Town Planning Department (HTPD) to finalise building bye-laws within a week.

The governor announced these decisions while talking to a delegation of the Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD) which called on him at the Governor House. Those who attended the meeting included Abad chief M. M. I. Hussain, Syed Anwer Daud, Syed Zahid Rizvi, Abdul Karim Tai, Sabir Qureshi, HTPD Secretary Anzar Zaidi, Secretary Communication Hifzur Rehman, Secretary to Governor Brig. Akhtar Zamin (Retd) DG KDA, and the chief controller of KBCA.

The ABAD delegation informed the governor that out of 266 buildings which were found either illegally constructed or constructed in total violation of building rules, only 26 belonged to the members of the ABAD.

HTDP Secretary, Anzar Hussain Zaidi, told the governor that building bye-laws were framed about eight months back and the copies were passed on to a committee of experts comprising architects and engineers to give the draft final touches. The purpose was to accommodate public opinion and to make fool-proof laws.

Zadi said the committee despite several notices had not submitted its report so far.

Governor Daudpota expressed his displeasure over the delay and directed Zaidi to give the committee one more week to finish its work and if the committee did not respond, the process to finalise the draft should be undertaken by the department, so that a notification or an ordinance, as the case may be, was issued.

Daudpota said he would look into the cases of unauthorised and illegal construction, and if need be he would himself visit the illegally constructed high-rises and decided cases on merit.

The governor said the engineers, architects, government officials and the influential people who exercised their influence and promoted illegal construction would have to face accountability.