KARACHI, March 18: A shop owner, who had carried out illegal construction work in a building protected under the Sindh Cultural Heritage Protection Act, has been directed to restore the premises, it is learnt.

According to the sources, the Karachi Building Control Authority has ordered the owner of the NM Chhotani Jeweller that "you are, hereby directed to remove violations carried out in the premises within seven days, failing which action shall be taken under the rules."

The sources said that the illegal construction, repairs and renovation work was being carried out in a shop and a flat in a protected building, owned by the State Life, Plot No 5, SB-6, main Zaibnunnsa Street, Saddar, for over a couple of weeks.

Under the rules, nobody, including the owner, could carry out any construction, repairs, renovation, etc in a building protected under the act, without getting prior permission from the advisory committee, headed by Sindh chief secretary. The act prescribes prison term and heavy fines for violators.

Even if a building is not protected under the Sindh Cultural Heritage Protection Act, a person carrying out any such work in it has to get a permission from the KBCA.

The sources said that work in the State Life Building, previously known as Ideal Life Assurance Co (ILACO) House, was being carried out illegally, as neither a permission had been sought from the advisory committee, nor the permission had been obtained from the KBCA.

The sources said that as the work was being carried out without prescribed permissions and NOCs, the KBCA had sealed the shop and the flat on March 15. The KBCA sources said that after the sealing of the shop, the owner of the NM Chhotani Jewellers had approached the KBCA, requesting for de-sealing of the shop, so that he could remove the violations.

The KBCA de-sealed the shop and directed its owner to remove the violation carried out in the premises within seven days, failing which action would be taken against him under the rules.

As the occupant of the flat, who was also carrying out the illegal work, had not yet approached the KBCA, the flat had not yet been de-sealed, the sources said and added that legal action would be initiated against the occupant of the flat.