Court Issues Notice to SBCA Over Rapid Construction of Illegal Seven-Storey Building in Lyari

Karachi: A court in Karachi has issued notices to the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and other relevant parties over the alleged illegal construction of a seven-storey building in Lyari within just 70 days.
The notices were issued during a hearing of a petition filed by a citizen, Zahid Hussain, who challenged the construction of the building in the Agra Taj area of Lyari. The court has directed all respondents to submit their replies by August 26.
According to the petition, the Sindh government, SBCA, anti-encroachment authorities, and the land department have been named as parties, along with SBCA officials and builders identified as Shah Jahan and Shah Nawaz.
The petitioner stated that the building, located on Plot No. 25 at Mirza Adam Khan Road in Agra Taj Colony, was constructed illegally in violation of building regulations. He alleged that the structure was completed in just 70 days and that substandard materials were used in its construction.
The petition further claimed that despite multiple complaints, SBCA officials failed to take action against the builders.
Highlighting safety concerns, the petitioner referred to a recent building collapse in Lyari’s Baghdadi area that resulted in the deaths of 13 people, warning that such illegal constructions pose serious risks to human lives.
He urged the court to order the demolition of the building and direct authorities to take immediate action against illegal constructions.