Staff Reporter
Karachi
Mohsin Sheikhani, Chairman Association of Builders and Developers of Pakistan (ABAD), has warned that one million people’s lives are at stake due to illegal and sub-standard constructions being carried out by unscrupulous elements in contravention of rules and regulations of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) with connivance of corrupt officials of SBCA.
Mohsin Sheikhani has conveyed this warning to Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, Chief Secretary Sindh Mumtaz Ali Shah, Sindh Minister for Local Government Nasir Hussain Shah, Advisor to Chief Minister on Law Murtaza Wahab, Chairman National Disaster Management Authority Lt. Gen. Muhammad Afzal and Chairman Sindh Disaster Management Authority Syed Salman Shah through separate letters regarding illegal construction in Karachi.
He, in the letters, has pointed out towards massive illegal and sub-standard construction activities in Karachi due to non-compliance of Sindh Building Control Ordinance (SBCO) 1979 endangering lives of thousands of city dwellers in case of any natural calamity.
He has said that all such unapproved illegal buildings could collapse at any time like and people will not only lose their life-time savings but could lose their lives. He said that the SBCO is very important law and its purpose was to regulate building construction and make SBCA officials accountable but unfortunately it is not being implemented in its letter and in spirit.
