KARACHI, Dec 7: The Sindh government is constructing apartments for its secretaries in the Clifton area without first getting the mandatory permission from the Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA), it has been learnt from reliable sources.

According to highly placed sources, the KBCA has “requested” the departments concerned – General Administration (GA) and Works & Services (W&S) – to cease all construction work. A show cause notice has been issued, warning the departments that action will be taken against those involved in illegal construction.

The KBCA notice on the subject (“Construction of residential apartments on plot No 112, Old Clifton Quarters, Karachi”) says that “whereas construction on site mentioned above appears to be unauthorized and in violation of the requirements of Sindh Building Control Ordinance 1979–82 and regulations framed there under.

“Description of violation: Construction without approval of building plans. You are hereby requested to stop further construction work on the said plot forthwith and show cause within three days, otherwise action shall be initiated under the relevant provisions of Sindh Building Control Ordinance, 1979–82,” concludes the notice, which was issued by the KBCA’s Town Building Control Officer, Saddar Town, Mumtaz Haider.

Dawn repeatedly attempted to approach Secretary (General Administration) Rizwan Ahmad, who heads the department for which the apartments are being constructed, but he refused to respond to queries on the matter.

Sindh Works & Services Department Secretary Mukhtar Soomro did speak to Dawn, asserting that that the department had submitted building plans to the KBCA and has applied for the required approval. Mr Soomro spoke after consulting his chief engineer.

When asked if the said approval has been granted, Soomro said “No, the approval has not yet been issued, but it is in the process.” Responding to a question on how construction had begun without the required KBCA approval, he said that perhaps the apartments were required urgently. He added that once plans have been submitted, the issuance of the approval is just a formality.

He agreed with Dawn, however, in saying that construction should not have begun without the prerequisite KBCA approval.

Sources say this is the second such illegal construction carried out by the present government, the first being that of the Secretariat Tower. That building is being constructed next to the chief secretary’s office.

Dawn’s sources go on to say that the KBCA had earlier issued a notice to the heads of the General Administration and Works & Services departments regarding the construction of the Secretariat Tower. Instead of applying for approval of their plans from the KBCA, however, high ranking officers from both departments summoned KBCA staff members to the secretariat and warned them to stop issuing such notices to the government, regardless of the illegality of construction. They also warned the KBCA officials of stern action if they dared to issue similar notices at any time in the future.

Meanwhile, responding to Dawn’s queries, Sindh chief secretary Fazal-ur-Rehman said that he was looking into the matter of illegal construction by government departments without KBCA approval. He said he has issued specific directives stating that KBCA approval is necessary prior to the construction of any government building.

Rehman said that construction at both sites – Secretariat Tower and Secretaries Flats in Clifton – has now been stopped, and will only resume after the KBCA’s approval has been obtained. He assured Dawn that action would be taken against those who have violated the law in this matter.

The chief secretary concluded that if government departments and officials did not follow the rules/laws, they would lose the moral authority to ask other people to follow the rules.