Illegal construction business rampant in city:KBCA fails to curb violations on the pretext of lack of own police station

November 15, 2009


By Irfan Aligi

KARACHI: Despite measures that the Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA) has taken to prevent illegal constructions and violations of the KBCA rules and regulations, the violations have persisted in rampant in the city. Although, these violations pertaining to illegal constructions have been going on in every part of the city, however, a few of the areas in city have been committing similar violations in vivid majority.
A synopsis of illegal construction against KBCA rules and regulations could be witnessed at different locations including construction of additional floor on plot No. SR-36, sector 7-A, Maymarabad, Surjani, Gadap Town, construction of additional floor and conversion of residential status to commercial on Plot No C-32, block-C, North Nazimabad Town, construction of additional floor Plot No 3-B, 9/7, Nazimabad, Liaquatabad Town, construction of additional floor and conversion of residential status to commercial on Plot No 82-A, block 7 and 8, CP Berrar Cooperative housing Society, Gulshan-e Iqbal Town, construction of additional floor and conversion of residential status to commercial on Plot No 19/8, and 6/14, sector 5-A in Buffer Zone, North Nazimabad Town, construction of additional floors on Plot of Iqbal City Garden in sector 15-A/2, Buffer Zone, North Nazimabad Town, construction of additional floor and conversion of residential status to commercial on Plot No 14/14, 2-E 1/6 and 2-E 2/8 in Firdous Colony, Liaquatabad Town and construction of additional floor and conversion of residential status to commercial on Plot No 115-H, block 2, PECHS and Plot No 7-O, block 2, PECHS.
The sources privy to these illegal constructions and open violations have said that these were not possible unless the KBCA officers were not involved.
As a matter of fact, the KBCA officers concerned had obtained information on illegal constructions in areas of their respective jurisdiction during times when this scribe had contacted them for their comments, whether directly or through KBCA public relations Officer. Nevertheless, the violations continued till completed and utilized.
However, the KBCA officials concerned have told daily Times that due to lack of KBCA’s own Police Station, the KBCA was facing problems to curb the violations. The dearth of the required police personnel from city police caused impediments to exercise certain actions such as demolition of the portion of the building being constructed in violation to KBCA’s laws.
There was always a threat of deterioration of law and order at times of implementing the process of demolition while KBCA’s demolition squad strength of personnel was grossly understaffed, which would be addressed through hiring on-demand services of private citizens.