KARACHI, Jan 6: The city council on Tuesday approved new commercialization policy and bylaws for the change of land-use which would come into effect immediately.

The council passed a resolution tabled by the chairman of the city council's commercialization committee, Abdur Rasheed Baig. Six roads, namely Sharea Faisal (from Metropole Hotel to Malir Bridge), Tariq Road (from Allahwali Chowrangi to Bahadurabad, commercial area and from Sindhi Muslim Society), Rashid Minhas Road Scheme-16, 24 & 36 (from Drive-Inn Cinema to Shafique Road), University Road Scheme No 24 and 36 (from Civic Centre to Safoora Chowk), Shahrah-i-Pakistan Scheme No 16 (Teen Hatti Bridge to Sohrab Goth) and Nazimabad A. Road (Lasbella Bridge to Circular Railway line on left side), are included in the first phase of this commercialization policy.

Work on change of land-use for 11 other roads of the city would be started from July 1 under the new bylaws. Bylaws approved for change of land-use would be applicable to all areas which fall in the jurisdiction of the City District Government Karachi and the Master Plan Department of the CDGK would be the competent authority to take decisions in this regard.

Change of land-use would not be allowed on the roads less than 100 feet in width, according to bylaws. Amenity plots would not be used for other purposes whereas industrial plots could not be converted into residential or commercial plots under the new bylaws.

Approval for setting up CNG stations on industrial, residential and commercial land would be in accordance with the relevant bylaws of other institutions and the CDGK.

The master plan department can only allow residential plots to be used for education purposes after getting an NOC from the respective union council administration.

Only 25 per cent land can be allowed for commercial purposes on the land designated for cinema and the remaining 75 per cent would have to be used for construction of cinema. However, this 25 per cent land could only be used for commercial purposes after getting an approval under the new bylaws.

Residential plots could only be used for commercial purposes after getting an approval from the competent authority under the new bylaws and amendments made in it during the course of time.

Use of land for commercial purposes would be considered illegal without the approval of the CDGK except for land which is approved by the competent authorities.

Twenty per cent of the fine collected from the illegal use of land by violating the commercialization policy and bylaws would be given to respective union council and the master plan department would be the competent authority to take an action in this regard. Construction would be prohibited on the land specified for extension of roads whereas construction of buildings within the radius of 1.2 km of Quaid-i-Azam Mausoleum and above the sea level of 27.72 m would also not be allowed.

Hawker zones would not be allowed on roads and footpaths adjacent to commercial areas. Only leased land would be allowed for "change of land use."-PPI