KARACHI: The Karachi Development Authority has launched a campaign against the commercial use of residential plots in Clifton and started sending notices to the owners for stopping the ongoing commercial activities immediately, it emerged on Thursday.

Official sources said that the KDA had so far identified as many as 172 residential plots where commercial activities were being carried out in violation of laws.

They said that the commercial use of residential plots was not permissible under the laws and the violators of the ban were being issued notices in the light of Supreme Court’s 2019 relevant order.

The sources said that a comprehensive plan had been chalked out to stop commercial activities on the residential plots on the instruction of KDA director general Muhammad Ali Shah.

KDA identifies over 170 properties, asks owners to stop violating rules or face action

They said that commercial activities were spotted on as many as 38 residential plots in Block 1 of Clifton, 45 in Block 2, 23 in Block 4, 37 in Block 5, 10 each in Block 7 and Block 8 and 15 residential plots in Block 9.

KDA spokesman Akram Sattar said that the residential plots had to be restored to their original condition in the light of master plan as directed by the apex court.

He said that commercial use of residential plot was a clear violation of the terms and conditions of allotment/lease.

The spokesman said that the owners of residential plots where commercial activities were carried out had been issued notices over violating related clauses of lease deeds. They have been asked to stop commercial activities on the residential plots within seven days and keep them using the properties only for residential purpose.

He said that the KDA would take action against misuse of the residential plots by cancelling the allotment and lease orders.

The owners served with the notices have been asked to reach the office of director land with the original documents within 15 days.

Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2023