KARACHI: In a bid to ensure the provision of all the facilities to the dwellers of the metropolis, the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has imposed a ban on the establishment of housing schemes who do not have prior No-Objection-Certificate (NOC) from the utility providers, it was learned on Friday.
Usually, the developer in the city gets land from the revenue authorities and start construction on the site however the utility providers like gas, electricity and water and sewerage are approached on the completion of the project. In many cases, various projects in the city are without gas and electricity as the utility providers do not have upgraded system there, sources confided to Pakistan Today.
The SBCA Director General Agha Maqsood issued an order imposing a complete ban on conversion of agricultural land into sikni i.e. approval of housing schemes without obtaining NOC from concerned municipal services other authorities concerned.
“In pursuance of orders of commission constituted in compliance to orders of honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan in Constitutional Petition No 38/2017 vide its hearing dated 5.3.2018, the competent authority is pleased to notify imposition of ban on conversion of agricultural land into sikni i.e. approval of housing schemes without obtaining NOC from concerned Deputy Commissioner, Municipal Services Department and utility departments.
Henceforth NOC of WASA, KWSB, Town Municipal Committee, electric company and Sui Southern Gas Company shall be mandatory prior to the approval of housing schemes. Such NOC furnished shall duly be signed by an authorised officer, not below BS-18 of the respective agency”, says the letter exclusively available with Pakistan Today.
“Any housing scheme which is even approved and its work has not been started or executed shall also fall within this category as if such permission was never granted, subject to what has been observed herein above. All the relevant officers are required to cancel/withdraw all such NOCs immediately”, it concluded.