Daily Times

KARACHI: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) started a probe into the illegal construction of buildings in Karachi and Hyderabad, constructed from 2013 to date, NAB officials informed.

NAB Karachi Director General Additional Director Muhammad Amir Butt vide letter CVC/200818/Var/RS/NAB.Karachi/2017/2284, October 12, 2017 to Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) Director General asked him to furnish all relevant records of such constructions in the city from the cited period.

Under NAB Ordinance 1999 section 27, the authority can ask for relevant documents required for investigation from any government or private institution on any complaint/complaints.

NAB asked the SBCA to cooperate and provide required documents , records and any other information about the constructions in Karachi and Hyderabad to NAB’s focal person, Assistant Director and investigation officer Rufi Shahzada.

NAB officials asked the SCBA to provide records pertaining to a number of buildings surveyed in Karachi and Hyderabad in violation of building laws, from 2013-2017, demolition of illegally constructed buildings, number of cases reported and resolved with their status and also details of involved officials of SCBA.

NAB officials revealed that a probe would also be initiated against the misdeeds of former and present SCBA director generals.

Reportedly, more than 60,000 illegal commercial, residential and industrial buildings had been constructed in Karachi, in the last four years.

In around 576 ‘katchi abadis’, there had been a mushroom of illegal constructions. The SBCA also failed in stopping illegal constructions carried out by Bahria Group, Airport Security Force, Fazaia Housing Society and other builders and constructors, it was reported.

Defying orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP), the SCBA awarded 20 no objection certificates for construction of high rise buildings in different parts of Karachi.

The SCP on March 16, 2017 had put a ban on the construction of high rise buildings and directed all departments including SCBA and six cantonment boards to only grant permission to constructions of two-storey buildings.

Published in Daily Times, October 23^rd 2017.