Leaked inquiry report exposes massive corruption in Sindh Building Control Authority

A hidden government report has exposed systemic corruption in the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), detailing how illegal construction flourishes under its watch.

Kamran Khan, citing findings from Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah’s inspection and inquiry team, revealed that bribery is entrenched in the agency, from peons to the director general.

According to the report, prepared by officials Shakil Mangnejo and Shahmir Bhutto in June 2024, the SBCA has failed to regulate construction in Karachi and other Sindh cities.

The document states that Karachi has become a hub of illegal buildings, with no enforcement of building regulations. Shockingly, the SBCA was unable to present even a single structure built according to an approved plan.

Kamran Khan highlighted key revelations from the report, which found that between 2020 and 2024, at least 25,000 buildings were erected annually in Karachi, but only 20% had SBCA permits. Even those with approval deviated from their original plans.

The report further revealed that 86% of buildings are occupied without completion certificates, while the remaining 14% obtain approval only after paying fines for violations.

The report also pointed to a governance vacuum within the SBCA, stating that the director general holds unchecked authority, with no oversight body in place. It alleged that the DG’s discretionary powers have reshaped Karachi’s skyline, allowing high-rise structures to exceed approved floors and encroach on open spaces with a single signature.

Kamran Khan emphasized that the lack of a computerized monitoring system enables widespread corruption, making enforcement efforts a tool for extortion rather than regulation. The report indicated that only 7% of inspected buildings received notices for violations, while demolition drives often serve as leverage for higher bribe demands.

Despite the alarming findings, the Sindh government has failed to act. The report, instead of prompting reform, was allegedly suppressed. Kamran Khan pointed out that provincial minister Nasir Shah and Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab continue to claim that everything is under control, contradicting the documented evidence of deep-rooted corruption.

Additionally, the report exposed irregularities in hiring, revealing that 1,447 illegal recruitments occurred in the SBCA between 2012 and 2015, including 421 officers. Many lacked proper qualifications, some had fake degrees, and others were overage, yet political influence ensured their employment.

Karachi’s residents are paying the price for this entrenched corruption. With both legal and illegal builders forced to pay hefty bribes, construction costs are artificially inflated, and citizens bear the financial burden.

Without urgent intervention, Karachi’s building sector will continue to operate as a lawless, cash-driven enterprise.