KARACHI: The local government department on Thursday clamped a complete ban on approval of all types of buildings, houses and commercial plazas across the province.

Well-placed sources said the decision to this effect was taken on the direction of Local Government Minister Mubin Jumani, who had earlier said that Karachi had become a jungle of buildings directing the Sindh Building Control Authority to take immediate action against the ‘illegal construction system’.

They said that the ban on approval of maps would apply to the SBCA and all development authorities under the administrative control of the local government department.

Besides, the sources said, a ban was also imposed on issuance of any type of building plans and layouts, adding that the instruction in this regard had been issued to different civic and development bodies, including Karachi Development Authority, Malir Development Authority and Lyari Development Authority

They said that the ban on issuance of maps, building plans and layouts would also apply to the Hyderabad Development Authority, Sehwan Development Authority and Town Planning Department.

The sources said that the ban would be limited to the formulation of future policy and soon the supervisory provincial would formulate a clear policy in this regard.

Meanwhile, the local government minister said that local bodies including Water Board, KDA had to utilise all their resources to provide public facilities and relief only.

“The current caretaker government is not a political, but a public government and the officers should work openly to serve the people without any pressure,” he said while presiding over two different meetings of Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation and KDA.

The minister directed KDA Director General Pervez Ahmed Baloch to make efforts to increase the resources and restore the beauty of the city.

He directed the KWSC Chief Executive Officer Syed Salahuddin to launch strict crackdown against illegal hydrants in the city to ensure fair distribution of water among citizens.

The caretaker provincial minister said that all resources should be used to prevent water theft in the city and to eliminate illegal water hydrants in particular, and if necessary, police, rangers and others should be used to restore law and order.

He said that the help of the institutions should be taken as well as the services of retired soldiers could also be taken in the institution.

He said that all the officers should not succumb to any kind of blackmailing or accept any kind of political pressure.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2023