KARACHI, Jan 22: A housing-cum-commercial project in Clifton was allowed to raise four additional floors on the chief minister’s directives, the Karachi Building Control Authority informed a division bench of the Sindh High Court on Monday.

In its comments on a petition moved by a non-governmental organisation, the authority said M/s Greenbelt Residency were sanctioned a plan for basement (for car parking), ground floor (for shops) and six floors for apartments.

Four additional floors were built subsequently with the chief minister’s permission. It said there were violations of the approved plan and the building regulations. The KBCA twice attempted to demolish the unauthorised portions but the premises were found locked.

A purchaser of 13 shops on the ground floor, Munir Mahmood, joined in the proceedings subsequently another NGO, Shehri, has also sought to be impleaded.

The builder Ayub Merchant stated that he had sub-leased the basement to his son for commercial use but the sub-lease has since been cancelled and the basement restored to car parking. Adjourning the proceedings to January 26, the bench asked the builder to produce a copy of the sub-lease surrender deed and the KBCA to submit the record of the project plan.