Supreme Court allows multi-storey buildings in Karachi

KARACHI: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Sunday ruled in favor of construction of up to six-storey buildings in Karachi, ARY News reported.

“Neither construction nor booking of more than six-storey building would be allowed in the metropolis,” said Chief Justice Saqib Nisar while hearing the case against ban on multistoried buildings in Karachi.

He said the apex court would not allow destruction of the construction industry (by banning construction of multi-storey buildings. Strict action would be taken, if the court orders were violated, he said adding that the builder who violated the orders would be put behind bars.

The SC in May 2017 had barred the Sindh Building Control Authority and cantonment boards from issuing building approval plans for high-rise and multi-storey residential/ commercial buildings.

Read More: CJP reminds Karachi mayor of responsibility to fix civic problems

Saqib Nisar on this occasion vowed to crackdown on tanker mafia in the city after Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhter told that in some Karachi areas water was not supplied for up to three months.

“Water is a need of every household. We want eradication of tanker mafia at every cost whether it takes two months or three months,” the chief justice remarked.

He expressed remorse over availability of water in Karachi to rich and powerful only.

Shaming the Sindh government, he said the top court would get its orders implemented by itself.