KARACHI: Experts seek law on building height, parking facilities
By Azizullah Sharif
KARACHI, Nov 3: To contain the construction of high-rise buildings (ground-plus-four) in their initial stages and to make parking facilities mandatory in such buildings, the KBCA experts committee has proposed a number of amendments in the existing Karachi Building & Town Planning Regulations-2002 (KB&TPR).
The proposals, which have been ratified by the committee, have been submitted to KBCA chief controller Rauf Akhtar Farooqui for approval.
Giving details of the proposed amendments, the KBCA chief controller told Dawn that to check the construction of residential buildings being built on 400 or more square-yard plots and high-rise buildings (ground-plus-four) in their initial stages, the committee had proposed that the controller of buildings (Structure), COB (Vigilance) and the TBCO concerned should sign the plinth verification certificate of such plots/buildings approved by the structure section.
The committee has also proposed that the structural consultant, site engineer and contractor/builder shall ensure the quality of construction as per approved specification at site and shall be fully responsible for strength, stability and sustainability of buildings.
Referring to the proposals aimed at ensuring proper parking facilities, the chief controller said the committee had proposed that for plots up to and above 400 square yards the height of the building was restricted to ground-plus-four floors where parking was exempted.
Elaborating, he said that if the owners/builders of 400 square yards plots planning to raise the building up to ground-plus-seven or -eight floors would not be allowed to do so unless they provided 50 per cent public parking facilities.
“In case the minimum three additional public parking floors are proposed in addition to the required parking as per the regulations, an enhanced floor area ratio (FAR) up to a maximum of 50 per cent of the additional proposed parking area shall be added to the allowable FAR having a minimum plot area of 1,000 square yards,” he added.
He said that it had also been proposed that the provision of ramp for upward parking in compulsory open space on a side and the rear, in case a 40-foot wide or more space was available, must be made mandatory.
Vetting exempted
To help people build ground-plus-two buildings in coastal areas and ground-plus-four in other localities, the committee has proposed all such buildings which fall under category III and IV shall be scrutinised only by the department and as such the present condition of getting such buildings vetted by proof engineers will be exempted.
Referring to the proposed amendments concerning industrial buildings, the CCOB said such building with a total floor area of more than 15 feet would be approved in two stages, instead of one as is being practised currently.
Through another proposed amendment, a builder will be required to publish a public notice in leading Urdu and English newspapers in case of the abandonment of the project.
The committee has also proposed that a nominee (not less than the rank of a professor in the relevant field) of the NED Engineering and Technology University’s civil department be a member of the proof engineer registration committee; KBCA chief control of buildings may be authorised to recall, alter, amend his order of cancellation/suspension for professional licence, besides cooperative societies for maintenance of buildings be formed.
The experts committee, headed by the CCOB, comprises structural engineers Abdul Razzak Loya and Siddik Essa; architects Arshad Abdullah, Shahab Ghani, Hasnain Lotia; engineers Dr Shahid Mehboob, Farooquzzaman and Sarosh Lodhi. The KBCA officials on the committee include architect Ali Zafar Quadri, engineers Mohammad Shafiq, Atique Beg, Agha Masood and Asma Ghayyur.
The KBCA chief controller told Dawn that the proposed amendments in the KB&TPR were likely to be approved in a week.
