KARACHI, March 19: Governor Mohammedmian Soomro promulgated on Tuesday the Sindh Regulation and Control (Use of plots and construction of buildings) Ordinance 2002, providing for regularization of buildings constructed in violation of building bylaws and use of plots for any purpose other than the purpose for which it was granted with the approval of the authority.

The Ordinance shall come into force on such date as the government may, by notification, fix in the official gazette and shall remain in force for one year from its commencement.

The provisions of the Ordinance shall have effect, notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force.

The Ordinance says no plot shall be used for any purpose other than the purpose for which it was granted except with the approval of the authority which granted the plot on conditions and on payment of fee as may be prescribed.

It further provides that notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force or judgment, order or decree of any court, any building constructed before the commencement of this Ordinance in violation of the provisions of the Sindh Building Control Ordinance of 1979 or other regulations made thereunder, may be regularized by the authority appointed under the Ordinance on conditions and on payment of fee as may be prescribed.

The Ordinance has however put certain conditions for regularization of such buildings. It says no such buildings shall be regularized if (a) they are constructed on a plot specified for a purpose except permission is granted; (b) they have environmentally-degrading activities such as manufacturing, storage of dangerous or inflammable materials or cater to the service of the transport sector until such activities are removed; (c) uses parking space for other purpose until such space is restored to its original purpose; (d) has been constructed in violation of the reservation of road-widening scheme or property line, is/are in any hazardous use; (e) and has been constructed within 1.2km radius of the Quaid-i-Azam‘s mausoleum above a podium level of 91 feet (27.72 metres) from the mean sea level. — PPI