May 10, 2008	Saturday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 4, 1429

KARACHI, May 9: The Sindh minister for local government, Agha Siraj Durrani, has said that the Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA) is no longer a part of the city government and it will continue functioning as an independent body.

He was talking to newsmen after attending a briefing on the affairs of the authority at the KBCA office here on Friday. The minister, however, appreciated the performance of the authority during the last one year as the KBCA generated revenues amounting to Rs800 million during the current financial year.

The minister also assured the KBCA to of all-out support on behalf of the government.

He also lauded the authority for minimising the problems of the people, planning to construct their houses, by approving their plans without any waste of time.

In reply to a question, he said that permission would not be granted to anyone for the regularisation of those buildings which had been constructed in violation of the specified rules and regulations. “There will be a complete ban on the regularisation of such structures and all illegally-constructed buildings will be demolished,” he added.

Mr Durrani said that he would conduct inquiries against all the corrupt KBCA officials.

The minister said that he would take all-out measures to enforce uniform bylaws for the construction of buildings in all areas of the metropolis including those being controlled by various cantonment boards.

Earlier, he was briefed on the working of the KBCA by the chief controller of buildings, Manzoor Qadir, who informed him that the KBCA generated Rs1 billion each year and gave it to the city government, which subsequently utilised the amount for the beautification of the city.

Mr Qadir informed the minister that vacant posts in the KBCA would be filled purely on the basis of merit.

He said that the KBCA was providing a one-window facility and plans for houses up to 190 square yards were approved within 24 hours.

The minister said that the KBCA had set an example for other government departments by recovering dues of Rs800 million during the current financial year.

He categorically said that the KBCA was a part of the Sindh government. He directed the chief controller to ensure compulsory space for parking, availability of fire fighting equipment and emergency exits in all multi-storey buildings.

The minister also directed the chief controller to improve the working of the authority’s complaint centre and a weekly report regarding people’s complaints should be submitted to his office.

The minister urged all the KBCA employees to further improve their performance and assured them that promotions would be granted on the basis of their performance.

Mr Durrani said that the chief minister’s approval would be obtained for getting allocation of land for the KBCA’s approved housing society.