• Orders demolition of multi-storey building near Star Gate
• Seeks details of all illegal structures in Karachi
• Reviews steps for beautification of Sharea Faisal

KARACHI: Expressing grave concern and displeasure over the construction of illegal buildings along Sharea Faisal and other areas of Karachi, caretaker Chief Minister retired Justice Maqbool Baqar has directed the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) to immediately demolish such structures across the city and take stern action against officials who approved the layout plans of such constructions or deliberately ignored them.

The city has transformed into a concrete jungle, mainly due to excessive commercialisation and poor planning as the number of illegally-raised building has been increasing with each passing year, with officials of SBCA actively conniving with the builders. Despite the Sindh High Court’s frequently taking exception to the mushroom growth of illegal and unauthorised construction in the city, the issue remains unchanged.

Chairing a follow-up meeting regarding the beautification of the Sharea Faisal and restoration of Chaukhandi Graveyard, the chief minister pointed out to a multi-storey building being constructed near Star Gate and ordered its immediate demolition as it was found extended out near the main road.

Informed sources said that the chief minister expressed annoyance over the construction of illegal buildings in the city, including those along the city’s main artery, and directed SBCA chief Ishaq Khuhro to submit within 15 days a detailed report on the construction of such buildings across the city.

The sources said that the SBCA chief was asked to give details of buildings so far demolished since the establishment of caretaker set up in the province.

They said that he was also asked to give in his report the details of the permissions granted for building construction during the caretaker government.

A statement from the CM House said that the meeting was attended, among others, by Sports & Antiquities Minister Dr Junaid Shah, Mayor Murtaza Wahab, Secretary to CM Raheem Shaikh, Forest Secretary Najam Shah, Culture Secretary Khalid Chachar, Commissioner Muhammad Saleem Rajput, Architects Ali Naqvi and Ms Komal Pervez and Consultant Dr Kaleem Lashari.

It said that the CM pointed out that a building opposite Star Gate was being built but encroached on the service road. He directed the SBCA chief to bulldoze the building and take strict action against the officer responsible for the illegal construction.

As for the beautification of the Sharea Faisal, the commissioner informed the CM that a wall had been erected in front of Falaknaz Apartments, adding that the wall would be beautified with stone carving work and tiles showing different cultural colours of Sindh.

A spot was identified at the corner of the road going to Jinnah Terminal for which the CM decided that the KMC would develop a park there.

The CM also decided that the underpass at Drigh Road would also be beautified with lights, paints and installation of different tiles.

It was decided that the two flyovers located on the Sharea Faisal would also be beautified with tiles, paints and greenery. Sitting areas would be developed under the flyovers/bridges.

Mayor Murtaza Wahab told the CM that the green belt of Sharea Faisal was being beautified with plantation of trees and seasonal flowers, and that beautiful grills would also be installed there.

The chief minister directed DG SBCA to urgently move the builder of the Falaknaz Apartments to repair and renovate his buildings and treat their seepage.

Since its induction, the caretaker provincial government has attempted to control the menace but to no avail as the mechanism of corruption for granting permissions for building construction, commonly known as ‘system’, is still reported to be operative in the SBCA.

Even caretaker Local Government Minister Mubin Jumani during his introductory meeting with LG department had said that the city had been turned into a jungle of concrete, directing the SBCA chief to independently initiate immediate action against all ‘systems’ including ‘illegal construction system’.

Chaukhandi Graveyard

The CM was given detailed presentations on the progress made so far in the restoration of the Chaukhandi Graveyard by the commissioner, architects and the secretaries of culture and forest departments.

The commissioner told the CM that the trucks/containers parked along the access road had been removed and the cleanliness of the graveyard and its surrounding areas was in progress.

The forest secretary told the CM that the social forestry division had been assigned the task of conserving the graveyard. He pointed out that 800 different species of plants, shrubs and trees existed in the graveyard. They include Imli, Mango, Zaitoon, suhanjha, badam, Anjeer, Beri and others.

The CM was told that the forest department would plant 50,000 trees at the graveyard, including 5,000 neem, 13,000 of Gulmohar, 500 peepals, 4,000 Imli and others.

It was pointed out that plantation was the best way to prevent the archaeological site from erosion and exposure to weather.

Mayor Murtaza Wahab said that the KMC would develop a park at Chaukhandi Graveyard so that visitors could enjoy a proper sitting place.

Architect Ms Komal also gave a presentation about the master plan and landscape of the site and told the CM that she had submitted the master plan to the culture department.

The technical team of the project informed the CM that they had completed the documentation and survey of graves and canopies. They pointed out that 225 graves were in good condition, 275 were partially damaged and 199 were in dilapidated condition.

The chief minister desired that the design, features, financial implications, and hiring of artisans be finalised and carried out by the culture department.

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2024