KARACHI: In a move to prevent future urban accidents and strengthen structural oversight, the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has made fire safety infrastructure a mandatory and integrated component of any project design and completion.
“All public sale projects, industrial buildings and amenity plots must now incorporate separate underground and overhead water tanks dedicated exclusively for firefighting purposes at both planning and completion stages. The measure ensures that firefighting water storage becomes a core structural element rather than an afterthought,” said SBCA Director General Muzamil Hussain Halepoto.
Formally notified as the Karachi Building and Town Planning Regulations (Amendment) 2026 on Monday, the revised rules have come into immediate effect across the province and are being described as a decisive regulatory response to past commercial fire tragedies, including the devastating blaze at Gul Plaza.
“The amendments have been enacted under Section 21-A of the Sindh Building Control Ordinance and revise key provisions in Chapters 4, 9, 13, 18 and 24 of the existing regulations. We termed the reforms a structural correction aimed at addressing enforcement gaps in fire safety and building oversight,” Mr Halepoto said in a statement.
New regulations require underground and overhead water tanks for firefighting
Under the new framework, the statement said, developers are also required to submit certified Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) drawings, duly signed by qualified professionals, demonstrating compliance with firefighting standards before final construction permits are issued.
Additionally, no completion plan for public sale, industrial or amenity buildings will be approved without obtaining No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the Civil Defence Department and the Fire Brigade or relevant municipal authorities.
“These clearances must be submitted to the SBCA, creating an inter-departmental compliance mechanism aimed at eliminating regulatory loopholes,” it said.
According to the amendments, retail and commercial establishments have been brought under enhanced internal fire preparedness requirements. Each shop must now install at least one fire extinguisher, while department stores are required to provide a minimum of one extinguisher for every 400 square feet of covered area.
Officials say these measures are intended to improve first-response capacity and limit escalation of fire within commercial premises, the statement added.
Beyond fire safety, it said, the amendments introduce structural administrative reforms. Licensing procedures for building professionals have been centralised, with all new and renewal licences across Sindh to be issued through the Licensing Section at SBCA headquarters. Licences approved by the Licensing Committee will now be valid province-wide, ensuring uniform compliance standards and procedural consistency.
“Parking requirements have also been expanded to address congestion in commercial zones,” it said. “Developers must provide additional motorcycle parking based on a fixed ratio per car, alongside designated spaces for visitors and the general public. Authorities expect the enhanced parking provisions to reduce bottlenecks and ensure clear access routes for emergency response vehicles during crises,” the statement added.
Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2026
