KARACHI, Dec 13: Housing societies have no role to play in the commercialisation of plots and buildings, according to a Sindh High Court division bench order.

It is for the city district government to issue a certificate for conversion of a plot or building from residential to commercial and for the Karachi Building Control Authority to sanction a construction plan in accordance with the certificate, the bench, which consisted of Justices Sarmad Jalal Osmany and Sajjad Ali Shah observed in a consent order while disposing off a petition moved by Saify Co-operative Housing Society, North Nazimabad.

The order paves the way for processing and disposal of a large number of building plans by the KBCA.

The authority was unable to take any action on the plans because of the objections raised by the housing societies, which said being the owner of the land it fell within their purview to allow commercialisation.

Under the court order, the housing societies are empowered only to issue no-objection certificates in respect of sale of plots.

NOTICE TO CCOB: The bench, meanwhile, issued a notice to the chief controller of buildings, KBCA, for non-compliance of a court order for demolition of unauthorised construction of two floors on a building being raised on plot number LY-7/18, Moosa Lane, near Bagh Musafirkhana, Lyari Town.