KARACHI, Dec 28: The Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA) has withdrawn building plans and NOC, issued to a highrise, raising of which was violative of the sanctity of the Quaid-i-Azam mausoleum. The action has been taken on the intervention by Corps-5 Headquarters, it is learnt.
According to sources, it was at least second intervention by the Corps Headquarters to make the KBCA chief controller withdraw the NOC issued to the builders of the Sea Breeze Midtown Apartments project on plot Nos. MC-4 and MC-7, Lines Area, M. A. Jinnah Road.
The Corps Headquarters maintained in its letter to the KBCA that the project site was located within three/four-mile radius of the Quaid’s mausoleum within which a height of the building is required to be kept below the podium level, i.e. 91 feet above the Mean Sea Level.
It pointed out that the building plan of the project showed its level higher than the laid down limit. It drew the controller’s attention to the step taken by the KBCA under which an NOC issued earlier for the project was cancelled. “Now the KBCA has restored the NOC,” the letter read.
The Corps Headquarters said: “The case on the subject is also subjudiced in the court of District Judge (East) and the court has ordered maintenance of status quo. The KBCA, in violation of rules, has restored the NOC illegally.
“Foregoing in view, please direct KBCA to withdraw the NOC. Resident Engineer Quaid-i-Azam Mazar Management Board has already referred the issue to the KBCA, a copy of the letter is attached for reference.”
The sources said that the KBCA, in its compliance letter to the Chief of Staff, Headquarters 5 Corps, informed that the building plans and NOC for sale and advertisement pertaining to the said project had since been withdrawn.
It may be recalled that construction on the project had stopped with the cancellation of the NOC many years back. However, the KBCA restored the NOC a few weeks back enabling the builder to resume sale and advertisement of shops, apartments, etc. which were to be raised on ground plus three floors — up to the Mazar’s podium level.
The KBCA move to restore the NOC prompted many civilian authorities to approach the Authority to seek reversal of its decision.
The sources recalled that the issue was first raised by the Quaid-i-Azam Mazar Management Board (QMMB). It had advised the KBCA to act against the violation of the law.
Governor Ishratul Ibad also wrote two letters to chief secretary, and also to City Nazim Naimatullah Khan, calling for an appropriate action.
According to the sources, despite all these communications, appeals, directives and orders, Chief Controller Brig (r) Ahmadullah Sharif Nasir did not withdraw the NOC.
It was the ‘request’ by the Corps Headquarters that finally ‘convinced’ the KBCA chief to act against the violation of the law, the sources added.