KARACHI: Amendments to the Master Plan of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) during the past two consecutive tenures of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government have severely damaged the civic infrastructure in the port city leaving Karachiites in a myriad a problems, including poor water, power and drainage system. Besides Karachi, several cities of Sindh, including Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Mirpurkhas and Benazirabad are also enduring the negative impact of these time to time amendments. Former Sindh chief ministers Qaim Ali Shah and Murad Ali Shah are also accused of introducing “unnecessary” amendments to building by-laws using the floor of the provincial assembly mainly for “financial gains”. Amendments to SBCA Master Plan have left Karachiites in a myriad of problems, including poor water, power and drainage system To utter surprise, most of their colleague in the Sindh Assembly remained tight-lipped and no raised finger at the “unwanted” amendments giving powers to former “blue-eyed” SBCA director generals, including Manzoor Ahmad Kaka, Agha Maqsood Abbas, Noor Muhammad Leghari and Mumtaz Haider to single-handedly change the Master Plan. Several politicians, media persons and bureaucrats received windfall profits as they were granted no objection certification to get the status of their real estate properties changed without seeking approval from any competent authority. During the period spanning around ten years (200-2018), Qaim Ali Shah and Murad Ali Shah kept granting permission to SBCA DGs for unilateral changes to basic master plan structure. Status of thousands of residential, industrial and amenities plots were converted in Karachi and elsewhere in other cities of Sindh thanks to these amendments. Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar likened these amendments to trampling down rights of civic bodies. “It is against the law,” he maintained. SBCA Director General Iftikhar Ahmad Kaimkhani was of the view, “I am not in favour to exploit or misuse these amendments unilaterally and for ulterior motives for financial and other illegal gains.” Talking to Daily Times, Karachi Water and Sewerage Board DMD (technical service) Asadullah Khan said that water supply to the city was severely affected after changing the status of residential and commercial buildings. “This has created imbalance in water supply as number of flats and commercial users increased sharply. Similarly sewerage system also came under pressure.” Advocate Nasir Ahmad said that the amendments were against the basic rights of local government system and was tantamount to usurping rights of local bodies. Manzoor Ahmad Kaka during an interview with a local newspaper had claimed, “The CMs on their own delegated all powers of SBCA to me and I had discharged my duty as per the prescribed rules.” It might be mentioned that administrative and technical council of directorate of town planning Hyderabad was placed under SBCA DG in May 2012. In September 2013, the Sindh government notified that all cases pertaining to change of land use would be processed through the SBCA DG. On November 6, 2013, the Sindh government with the approval of the CM placed all administrative, financial and technical control of Master Plan Department under the command and control of the SBCA DG. On March 20, 2014, the SBCA Act, 1979 was amended and provisions of town planning, Master Planning were inserted. Also the National Accountability Bureau during that period registered nearly 24 cases pertaining to alleged anomalies in by-laws. However, the anti-corruption watchdog was left scratching its head after if found that all the powers to DGs were given through the assembly. Due to illegal permission and conversion of status of plots, mushroom of housing schemes and commercial plazas were constructed in areas like Surjani Town, North Karachi, New Karachi, North Nazimabad, Nazimabad, Old Golimar, Pak Colony, Liaquatabad, Shershah, SITE area, FB Area, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Jauher, Malir, Model Colony, Shah Faisal, Landhi, Korangi, Mahmoodabad, Manzoor Colony, KDA Scheme-I, Dhoraji Colony, Sindhi Muslim, Bahadurabad, Bihar Cooperative Society, Karachi Administration Society, Muslimabad, Jamshed Quarters, PIB Colony, Soldier Bazaar, Pakistan Quarters, Ranchore Lines, Garden (east and west), Kharadar, Mithadar, Lyari, Chakiwara, Agra Taj Colony, Bakra Piri, Mera Naka, Mianwali Colony, Bihar Colony, Burns Road, Railway Colony, PIDC, Old Clifton, Civil Lines and Shahrah-e-Faisal. Published in Daily Times, July 4th 2018.