KARACHI, Aug 30 Several companies from across the world have lodged their bids to provide their services as consultants to the Karachi Building Control Authority regarding a plan for the city's development of skyscrapers.

A new High Density Zone Board has also been established.

In all, 17 companies from the US, Singapore, Germany, France and other countries applied for the consultancy position in response to international tenders. They have been short-listed and one of them is now to be picked on merit for the purpose by a committee of architects.

The Chief Controller of Buildings, Manzoor Kadir, told APP that President Asif Ali Zardari had opined that since Karachi is one of the worlds largest cities, its skyline needs to be developed. He said that this requires adequate planning.

In this regard, the President cited the examples of Dubai, Hong Kong and Bangkok, and pointed out that these countries had deserts and barren lands where they developed the required infrastructure. He added that their example should be followed by Karachi's authorities.

Manzoor Kadir said that the KBCA was specially directed to prepare the required rules and regulations and to provide such facilities whereby people were induced to invest in Karachi rather than abroad.

'Initial plan rejected'

He said that in the light of the President's directive, an exercise was started in April 2008 and an outline for Karachi's 'vertical development' was prepared in consultation with all stakeholders, including senior engineers, architects and citizens.

The CCOB pointed out that in Karachi 23 roads have been declared to be commercial and skyscrapers could be allowed at the National Highway and Superhighway, Northern and Southern Bypasses and major arteries around Hawkesbay.

He said that the basic condition laid for such structures had been that the plot should be a minimum of 500 sq. yards in size and the developer would be responsible for providing electricity, water and sewerage systems.

He said that once this outline was chalked out, all the senior architects of Karachi, over 150 in number, were invited for a final debate.

The CCOB said that they rejected outright the KBCA's proposal on the grounds that all of Karachi cannot be declared to be a 'high-rise density zone' at the same time, and that it would not be possible to lay the infrastructure for this.

According to him, the Sindh government was consulted and with its permission a committee of architects was formed, which provided its recommendations in six months.

The committee recommended that vertical development should take place in Karachi in order for a skyline to be developed, but the entire city cannot be opened up for the purpose.

The committee, he said, proposed two zones one around I.I. Chundrigar Road and the other around Sharea Faisal.

They recommended that an international urban consultant be hired to design the entire area and that only after the high density zone had been planned should it be opened.