Latest news with #SindhBuildingControlAuthority
Express Tribune
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Heated debate in PA on Ajrak number plates
The opposition and treasury benches, during the Sindh Assembly session on Friday, traded verbal barbs over the issue of Ajrak-themed number plates of the vehicles. The opposition asserted, they were not against the cultural and heritage status of Ajrak, but forcing people to pay exorbitant penalties for not installing the said number plates was unjustified. Moreover, the drive to implement the Ajrak number plates was limited to Karachi only, while in the rest of the province, vehicles ply even without number plates. Several MPAs expressed serious concerns over public issues and criticised harassing citizens over new number plates. They also expressed strong reactions over the notices issued to residents of derelict buildings in Gulistan-e-Jauhar and Hyderabad. MQM member Shabbir Qureshi raised objections to traffic police unjustly issuing fines and harassing citizens over Ajrak number plates. In response, Provincial Minister Saeed Ghani clarified that Ajrak number plates have been in vogue for the last two to three years and include security features. He stated that motorcycles are often used in thefts and crimes, hence having registered and identifiable number plates is essential. These number plates are readable by the Safe City Cameras and have helped in apprehending persons illegally using official vehicles and government number plates. Excise Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla said that since 2022, new number plates have been installed on one million motorcycles, and it is a reflection of the culture of Sindh. He said that the Punjab government adopted the Ajrak design on its flyovers, but it has been made controversial in Sindh, which is unfortunate. MQM member Najm Mirza said that Ajrak is not the issue, but people are being troubled under its guise, with traffic police issuing fines amounting to thousands of rupees. Najam Mirza recommended forming of a special parliamentary committee on this issue, which should also include the opposition. Saeed Ghani welcomed the proposal. He said, he accepts full responsibility for the recent building accident in Lyari in which 27 people lost their lives. He said that the affected building was constructed illegally in 1980s. Following the accident, the DG of the Sindh Building Control Authority was removed and cases were registered against 11 officers, many of whom have been arrested. He said that assistance was delayed due to the victims not having identity cards, but now Rs90,000 per family is being given as three-month rent. A total 45 families were living in the affected building in Lyari, most of whom were tenants. He added that 66 dangerous buildings in Karachi and 87 across Sindh have been vacated, and further action is being taken under the new committee. Home Minister Sindh Ziaul Hassan Lanjar said regarding police recruitment that 50,000 youth passed the written examination under the advertisement given during the caretaker government, out of which 11,000 were recruited on merit and all the details are available on the Sindh Assembly unanimously passed a resolution condemning the double murder incident in Balochistan, demanding the strictest punishment for the accused involved in the murder. The resolution was presented by Pakistan Peoples Party member Sadia Javed.
Express Tribune
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Heated debate on Ajrak number plates in Sindh Assembly
Listen to article The opposition and treasury benches, during the Sindh Assembly session on Friday, traded verbal barbs over the issue of Ajrak-themed number plates for vehicles. The opposition asserted they were not against the cultural and heritage status of Ajrak, but forcing people to pay exorbitant penalties for not installing the said number plates was unjustified. Moreover, the drive to implement the Ajrak number plates was limited to Karachi only, while in the rest of the province. Several MPAs expressed serious concerns over public issues and criticised harassing citizens over new number plates. They also expressed strong reactions over the notices issued to residents of derelict buildings in Gulistan-e-Jauhar and Hyderabad. MQM member Shabbir Qureshi raised objections to traffic police unjustly issuing fines and harassing citizens over Ajrak number plates. Also Read: Parking fee abolished across Karachi In response, Provincial Minister Saeed Ghani clarified that Ajrak number plates have been in vogue for the last two to three years and include security features. He stated that motorcycles are often used in thefts and crimes, hence having registered and identifiable number plates is essential. These number plates are readable by the Safe City Cameras and have helped in apprehending persons illegally using official vehicles and government number plates. Excise Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla said that since 2022, new number plates have been installed on one million motorcycles, and it is a reflection of the culture of Sindh. He added that the Punjab government adopted the Ajrak design on its flyovers, but it has been made controversial in Sindh, which is unfortunate. MQM member Najm Mirza said that Ajrak is not the issue, but people are being troubled under its guise, with traffic police issuing fines amounting to thousands of rupees. He recommended forming of a special parliamentary committee on this issue, which should also include the opposition. Read More: Private schools lead in matric results in Punjab Ghani welcomed the proposal. He further said that he accepts full responsibility for the recent building accident in Lyari in which 27 people lost their lives. He said that the affected building was constructed illegally in 1980s. Following the accident, the DG of the Sindh Building Control Authority was removed and cases were registered against 11 officers, many of whom have been arrested. He said that assistance was delayed due to the victims not having identity cards, but now Rs90,000 per family is being given as three-month rent. A total of 45 families were living in the affected building in Lyari, most of whom were tenants. He added that 66 dangerous buildings in Karachi and 87 across Sindh have been vacated, and further action is being taken under the new committee. Meanwhile, Home Minister Sindh Ziaul Hassan Lanjar said regarding police recruitment that 50,000 youth passed the written examination under the advertisement given during the caretaker government, out of which 11,000 were recruited on merit and all the details are available on the website. The Sindh Assembly also unanimously passed a resolution condemning the double murder incident in Balochistan, demanding the strictest punishment for the accused involved in the murder. The resolution was presented by Pakistan Peoples Party member Sadia Javed.
Express Tribune
22-07-2025
- Express Tribune
Eight SBCA officers get bail in building collapse case
Listen to article An Additional District and Sessions Judge (South) has approved the bail applications for eight officers of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) who were arrested following the tragic incident of building collapse in Lyari's Baghdadi area. Each officer has been ordered to submit a surety bond of Rs1 million. During the hearing, the court questioned the duration of posting of the accused and their specific roles. Defence lawyer Shahab Sarki Advocate contended that the accused had no direct involvement in the collapse, and their official postings were not explicitly linked to the case. He noted that the building, constructed in 1986, had not obtained NOC at the time of its construction. When the court inquired if the building was constructed illegally. The defence confirmed that the SBCA had no records of it. The court then asked whether any notice had been issued declaring the building as dangerous. The lawyer replied that no such notice was issued, nor was the building officially declared hazardous. "Then whose negligence is this?" the court pressed. Sarki responded by questioning how an illegally constructed building was provided with essential utility connections like electricity, gas, and water. He attributed negligence to various committees, including the demolition committee (headed by the deputy commissioner, with members like the SSP and assistant commissioner), another committee involving the SBCA director general, Mukhtiarkar, and other officers, and the supervision committee (chaired by the commissioner, with the additional IG and other members). Sarki also pointed out that in 2024, the SBCA had declared 722 buildings dangerous and advised evacuation, raising the question of why K-Electric provided utility connections to the building in question. The prosecutor asserted that the inquiry report clearly identified the roles of the accused. However, when the court asked if the accused were specifically named in the inquiry, the defence stated they had not received the report and that the building was not specifically mentioned within it. According to the report, accused officer Zargham Haider served for four months, Ashfaq Khokhar for a total of nine months over two tenures, and Faheem Murtaza for only two months in 2024. Another defence lawyer, Mustafa Advocate, added that Irfan Haider served for only one month. He asked for a thorough investigation. The defence further highlighted that Lyari is a sensitive area and the SBCA lacks a proper enforcement force. He pointed out that this is an inquiry case with no charge sheet (challan) presented yet, advocating for the formation of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT). The court also observed that the sections applied in the case appeared weak and reiterated that it is the state's responsibility to compensate the victims. 21 SBCA officers served final show cause notices Director General (DG) of Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has issued final show-cause notices to 21 SBCA officers in Central District, directing them to submit their replies within a week. In January 2025, these officers were initially served show-cause notices over allegations of collusion with the builder mafia, but no action had been taken so far. Following the SBCA DG Shahmeer Khan Bhutto directive, the inquiry has now been reactivated after a six-month Shahmeer has initiated strict departmental proceedings against government officers and officials facilitating illegal constructions in Karachi. The officers facing disciplinary action include assistant directors Shiraz Nazir, Jangi Khan Magsi, Asad Khan, Murtaza Tunio, Dileep Kumar, Majid Ali Magsi, Syed Muzammil Hussain and Fayaz Hussain Mehr. Also named are Deputy Director Aftab Ahmed Soomro, Inspectors Abid Ali Bhutto, Shahid Hussain Jokhio, Aamirul Hasan, Aurangzeb Khan, Taufiq Ansari, and Syed Javed Qadeer, along with several other officials. According to sources, these officers allegedly played a direct role in enabling unauthorized constructions across Central District. Earlier this year, they were ordered to take action against illegal structures but reportedly failed to comply with the directives. Insiders further revealed that the SBCA is preparing a separate list of officers allegedly involved in similar illegal activities in Karachi's East District.
Express Tribune
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
10 SBCA officials sent to jail in collapse case
Judicial Magistrate South Kulsoom Sehato heard the case of Lyari building collapse and sent 10 accused, including senior officers of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) on judicial remand to jail. Police had produced the suspects before the magistrate following the completion of their physical remand. The suspects include Syed Irfan Haider Naqvi, Ashfaq Hussain, Mohammad Jalees Siddiqui, Syed Faheem Murtaza, Asim Ali Khan, Faheem Ahmed, Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Raheem Hussain Shah, Taj Mohammad and SBCA's additional director general Zargham Haider. According to the investigating officer (IO), the official records of the collapsed building could not be recovered, and further custody of the accused was required to obtain the documents. However, the court dismissed this request, ruling that the investigation could continue without extending their physical remand. Defence lawyer Zeeshan Rajpar argued, there was no prior complaint about the dangerous condition of the building. Another defence counsel, Javed Chhattari stated that the responsibility to provide building records rests with the section officer, who has become the complainant in this case rather than any affected individual. The court rejected the IO's request for further remand and ordered to send all the accused to jail, stressing that law enforcement can proceed with record recovery through the section officer without needing to keep the suspects in custody. Rehabilitation of Lyari tragedy victims on cards: Ghani Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani has assured that the government will extend all possible support to the victims of the Lyari building collapse and is taking comprehensive steps for their rehabilitation. He added that a committee, formed for long-term rehabilitation, will soon finalise a plan to provide permanent housing for the victims. "A dedicated desk has been established at the Town Office to facilitate their rehabilitation," he said. He said that the government is providing immediate financial assistance of Rs1 million each to the families of people who lost their lives in the incident, while the affected families are being paid three months' rent as interim relief so they can arrange alternative housing. "Strict action will be taken against those found responsible for this tragedy," he stated. The minister on Monday met the affected families and offered condolence to them for the loss of precious lives in the tragic incident.
Express Tribune
13-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Sindh minister rejects ‘baseless propaganda' over new number plate scheme
Listen to article Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Sunday dismissed criticism of the province's new number plate scheme, terming it 'baseless propaganda' and asserting that the initiative aims to modernise vehicle registration and curb crime. In a statement, Memon said the scheme was introduced to tackle issues such as vehicle theft and improve the registration process. 'The Sindh government is open to hearing genuine public concerns, but will not tolerate politicisation of public welfare initiatives,' he said. Highlighting Sindh's energy potential, the provincial minister claimed the province possesses ample resources to help the country overcome its energy crisis. 'Federal policies have significantly hindered the development of Sindh's energy sector. If the province is granted autonomy and facilities in accordance with its resources, it can bring about a revolution in energy production,' he said. Read More: Old licence plate penalty sparks legal battle Memon urged stakeholders, experts, and policymakers to engage in an open dialogue on harnessing Sindh's vast energy reserves and pursuing sustainable energy solutions. He said that over the past six years, 30 million tonnes of coal had been supplied to independent power producers (IPPs) under the Thar Coal Project, resulting in the generation of 31 gigawatts of electricity — enough to power nearly three million homes. 'Thar's coal has the capacity to meet Pakistan's electricity needs for decades to come,' he added. The minister also pointed to key infrastructure developments, noting that a 105-kilometre railway line is under construction to connect Thar coal with national and international markets. 'Sindh has made notable progress in renewable energy. Our wind corridor is operational, and several solar energy projects are under development,' he said. Memon added that the Nooriabad Power Project is currently supplying 100 megawatts of electricity to Karachi, while Rs2.5 billion has been allocated for upcoming solar initiatives. Additionally, the provincial government is covering electricity bills of up to 200 units for eligible residents of Thar. Discussing future projects, he revealed plans for two new solar parks in Karachi, a solar project in Manjhand for the Hyderabad region, and solar parks for Sukkur and Larkana. 'The federal government must remove obstacles to these projects and provide full cooperation. It should cease opposing Sindh's solar and wind power plans and support the province in meeting the nation's energy needs,' Memon said. Also Read: PIA incurs net loss of Rs4.6 billion The minister also addressed illegal constructions across the province, noting that indiscriminate action was under way. 'The Sindh Building Control Authority has issued notices to 37 dangerous structures in Sukkur alone, and inspections are ongoing in Karachi, Hyderabad, Larkana and Nawabshah,' he said. 'Departmental and legal action will be taken against officers involved in unlawful construction.' He further said that the water level in the Indus River is rising steadily, with reports of low-level flooding at Guddu and Sukkur barrages. 'The Sindh Irrigation Department and Provincial Disaster Management Authority are closely monitoring all barrages, embankments and vulnerable areas. Relief camps and logistics support have already been activated in low-lying regions,' he said, urging the public to fully cooperate with authorities in case of evacuation. Touching on post-monsoon health concerns, Memon said an increase in gastroenteritis, diarrhoea, and viral infections had been observed. Emergency units have been activated in all government hospitals, and mobile medical camps are being established in Karachi, Thatta, Badin and other districts. 'The public is advised to drink clean water and avoid consuming substandard food,' he warned.
