KARACHI: The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has officially withdrawn a contentious notification that had permitted commercial activities on residential plots.
The move came after intense legal and political pressure, particularly from Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi, which filed a petition in the Sindh High Court (SHC) challenging the legality of the decision.
During a court hearing on the matter, SBCA Director-General Ishaq Khoro confirmed that the notification issued on March 13, 2025, had been revoked. Following this submission, the Sindh High Court disposed of the petition through a brief order.
The petition was spearheaded by City Council opposition leader Advocate Saifuddin and supported by nine town chairmen. Saifuddin described the withdrawal as a triumph for the people of Karachi and a vital step toward preserving the city’s urban integrity. He condemned the original decision as part of a deliberate plan to damage Karachi’s infrastructure for the benefit of a select few with vested interests.
According to him, the Sindh government’s move to legalize commercial use in residential zones would have drastically altered Karachi’s layout, undermining urban planning standards. He emphasized that this reversal was the result of Jamaat-e-Islami’s ongoing constitutional efforts to protect the city’s character and promised continued resistance against unlawful commercial activities.
Saifuddin further called for accountability from those who attempted to distort Karachi’s master plan, arguing that such decisions were taken without public interest in mind. He maintained that city planning should be governed by transparent procedures and legal oversight.
The SHC had earlier merged Jamaat-e-Islami’s petition with another by Pasban, both of which challenged amendments to the Karachi Building and Town Planning Regulations, 2002. Jamaat-e-Islami’s legal team argued that under existing laws, converting a residential plot into a commercial one requires a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Master Plan Department, Karachi Development Authority (KDA), and other relevant bodies.
The amended regulations, however, had allowed conversion with only SBCA’s NOC—a move many saw as bypassing essential checks. With Sindh’s withdrawal of the notification, Karachi’s urban future remains protected, at least for now. The development marks a significant shift in Sindh’s approach to urban planning and governance.