Pakistan building authority issues notices to 45 officers over illegal constructions

The Sindh Building Control Authority has issued show cause notices to 45 officers for allegedly allowing 198 illegal buildings to be constructed in Karachi's East District over six months, according to official documents obtained by Nukta.

SBCA Director General Shahmir Khan Bhutto issued the notices following a committee investigation that documented unauthorized constructions between January and July 2025, the documents show.

Among those served notices is Niaz Hussain Laghari, the current Director of Building Control for East Karachi, who is accused of allowing 79 illegal constructions in his jurisdiction, according to a show cause notice dated Aug. 5, 2025.

The notice states that Laghari "willfully failed to prevent or initiate timely and lawful action" under SBCA Rules 2013 and Karachi Building Regulations 2002.

Seven deputy directors also received notices, including Shakeel Ahmed Jamali, Shahid Hussain Khusk, Naeem Khan Abro, Farooq Ali Zardari, Hizbullah Shaikh and Muhammad Sajjad Khan. Ten assistant directors and 27 senior building inspectors and building inspectors were also served notices.

SBCA records show the illegal constructions include residential buildings with unauthorized additional floors, commercial shops built on residential plots, and structures violating setback requirements known as "COS" (Certificate of Structural Safety) violations.

One case involves a four-story illegal addition to an existing three-story building, while others include ground-floor commercial construction on residential plots, according to detailed construction records reviewed by Nukta.

According to sources, Bhutto formed a committee on July 22, 2025, under the Director of Vigilance and Counter-Checking. The committee was tasked with identifying all illegal and unauthorized constructions in East Karachi that occurred between January and July 2025.

The committee submitted a detailed report to the DG, listing 198 illegal buildings, along with photographic and video evidence. Based on this report, show cause notices were issued to all officers who held positions in the concerned area during that period.

Weak enforcement

The notices accuse the officers of “active collusion” or “willful negligence” in sanctioning the illegal construction. Citing an exhaustive inquiry report, the SBCA says no further investigation is needed and gives the accused 14 days to argue why they should not face charges of inefficiency, misconduct, or dereliction of duty.

Weak enforcement of building rules in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, has long fueled planning failures and safety hazards. SBCA disciplinary cases can drag on for months and may end in suspension, transfer, or dismissal.

The show cause notices accuse the officers of either "active collusion" or "willful negligence" in allowing the constructions. Officials have 14 days to submit written responses explaining why disciplinary action should not be taken.