KARACHI, Dec 3: Sindh Governor Mohammedmian Soomro promulgated on Monday, with immediate effect, the Sindh Building Control (Amendment) Ordinance, 2001, amending the Sindh Building Control Ordinance, 1979.

In the Sindh Buildings Control Ordinance, 1979, in section 19-(i) for sub- section (1-A), including its provision, the following sub-section (1-A) and (1-B) shall be substituted which shall remain in force for a period of 12 months from the commencement of this ordinance and thereafter the original sub-section (1-A) shall stand revived:

“(1-A) The Authority or any person authorized by it in this behalf may compound an offence relating to building works of a building plan which was approved prior to the promulgation of the Sindh Building Control (Amendment) Ordinance 2001 on payment enhanced by 50 to 300 per cent for different areas as categorized in the property valuation table issued by the Board of Revenue Sindh as mentioned in the table below and other fees as prescribed, on production of a certificate of structural stability duly verified by the licensed structural engineer on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed:

“Provided that no offence shall be compounded in respect of a building constructed within 1.2 km radius of the Quaid-i-Azam’s Mausoleum above a podium level of 91 feet (27.72 metres)

“Explanation: For the purpose of this sub-section ‘building works’ include excess covered areas, violation of compulsory open spaces or height restrictions.

TABLE

“(1-B) Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-section (1-A), no offence shall be compounded in respect of the buildings (a) which 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; (b) where parking space is used for other purposes, until such space is restored to its original purpose; (c) which have been constructed in violation of the reservation of road-widening scheme or property line, or are in any hazardous use; (ii) after sub-section (1-B) substituted as aforesaid, the following new sub-section shall be added:

“(1-C) The Authority or any person authorized by it in this behalf may compound any offence relating to the works commenced or carried out in violation of the regulations in respect of footprint, projections of the building on payment of the existing composition fee enhanced by 400 per cent and other fees, if the deviation does not exceed beyond 20 per cent of the permissible limits on the terms and conditions, as prescribed by the Authority.”—APP