SBCA annual report says action taken against 1,500 illegal buildings in 2024

The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has issued its Annual Performance Report for 2024. The authority claimed that it undertook extensive operations throughout Sindh over the past year to curb illegal constructions under the directives of Sindh Minister for Local Government Saeed Ghani.

The SBCA claimed that its operations were carried out impartially and without interruption across all the districts of Sindh. In 2024, according to the report, over 1,500 illegal constructions were demolished or subjected to other legal actions across Sindh, including Karachi's seven districts.

These efforts marked a record number of actions against illegal constructions within a single year, the authority said, adding that many of these actions were carried out in compliance with court orders, while over 200 legal petitions were also resolved.

SBCA Director General (DG) Abdul Rasheed Solangi strictly adhered to the Sindh government's zero-tolerance policy against illegal constructions, the SBCA report said. To maintain transparency, several officers and officials involved in illegal constructions were suspended, and investigations are ongoing in various cases, the report read. It claimed that the SBCA had mandated the installation of QR codes at under-construction project sites to ensure legal transparency and provide information about the projects.

During 2024, the SBCA approved 2,652 building plans, including housing schemes, and industrial, commercial and residential buildings. The authority introduced a single-window approval system, ensuring timely processing of plans and waiving penalties for delayed payments on industrial plans, which restored public trust in the authority, the report read.

A spokesperson for the authority stated that the SBCA technical committee, comprising expert construction engineers, continued surveying dangerous and dilapidated buildings in 2024, as a result of which 743 such buildings were identified, including 591 in Karachi, 81 in Hyderabad, 60 in Sukkur, sevem in Mirpurkhas and four in Larkana.

The committee also conducted timely inspections and prepared reports for buildings affected by accidental fires in Karachi during 2024. The spokesperson said the SBCA DG’s efforts led to resolving longstanding issues, such as the departmental promotion committee (DPC) process for officers and staff from grades 14 to 18.

Consequently, 72 officers and staff were promoted to higher grades. The previously suspended Hajj scheme was also revived, enabling 17 employees, including seven officers and 10 staff members, to perform Hajj in 2024 with full travel expenses covered through a transparent balloting process.

In its commitment to improving public service and enhancing the department's image, the SBCA focused on positive initiatives, including beautification projects, the report read. In collaboration with the Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD) and district administration, the authority beautified buildings and streets on both sides of Sharea Faisal, earning widespread appreciation from citizens. Inspired by the success of this initiative, a similar beautification plan is under way in Korangi Industrial Area upon the request of community representatives.