KARACHI, July 20: The Sindh High Court (SHC) asked the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) on Friday to get its plan for a 14-storeyed building in Bath Island approved by the Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA).

Gulshan-i-Faisal Housing Society of Bath Island had challenged the construction of an apartment complex for officers of the Karachi Port Trust through Advocate Rafiq Kalwar.

The KPT said that the land belonged to it and like the Pakistan Railways and other autonomous organisations; it had the right to raise structures on its land for its use. The petitioner society countered that the land formed part of Bath Island, which fell within the purview of the KBCA. Besides, the KPT must adhere to the terms of the lease.

A division bench consisting of Justices Sarmad Jalal Osmany and Faisal Arab held that a KBCA sanction was essential for the KPT building.