SHC seeks replies over illegal occupation of amenity plots
Summons LG secretary in plea pertaining to KMC senior director’s promotion
PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
The Sindh High Court issued on Friday notices to the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) director-general, Karachi Development Authority and other parties, seeking their replies on a plea pertaining to illegal occupation of amenity plots in Korangi.
At the hearing, the counsel for the petitioner maintained that the land mafia had illegally occupied state land in Korangi and consequently, the residents of Korangi were deprived of playgrounds and parks.
Besides, the petitioner has stated in the plea that the SBCA and other government departments are involved in land grabbing in the area and pleaded the court to order the restoration of amenity plots in Korangi.
Irked at the reductions made in the dues to be paid to the Karachi Development Authority's (KDA's) former employees, the Sindh High Court sought explanations from the KDA director general and member finance, KDA on the matter.
Buildings sans public safety
The construction of emergency exit ways is mandatory in buildings exist but they are not being implemented
Editorial
February 14, 2021
Government officials have made astonishing disclosures before the Sindh High Court with regard to public safety in residential and commercial buildings. The director general of the Sindh Building Control Authority informed the court during a recent hearing that rules making the construction of emergency exit ways mandatory in buildings exist in the statute books, but they are not being implemented. An emergency phone helpline had been set up at the Karachi Commissioner Office to address fire incidents and other such happenings, but now it has been deactivated. On a query from the court, the officer’s representative said the IT service too was dysfunctional in the commissioner’s office and this had rendered the helpline non-functional; now all work in this office was being done manually.
SBCA told to approve building plan only after fire dept, civil defence issue NOCs
Karachi
February 13, 2021
The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday directed the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) to formulate a standard operating procedure (SOP) to ensure that certain measures would be taken before approving any building plan and no objection certificates (NOCs) would also be obtained from the civil defence and fire departments before the construction of buildings.
Hearing a petition with regard to the implementation of the safety by-laws under the Building Code of Pakistan, a division bench of the SHC headed by Justice Mohammad Ali Mazharinquired the SBCA director general (DG) about the compliance with court
Polio vaccinators carry boxes of polio vaccine drops as they head to the areas they have been appointed to administer the vaccine, in Karachi in this file photo. Photo by Reuters
KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Friday pointed out flaws in the appointment process of vaccinators in the provincial health department and directed the authorities to reconduct interviews of the candidates found successful in the written test and initiate a fresh recruitment process on the remaining posts in accordance with rules.
A two-judge bench comprising Justices Nadeem Akhtar and Adnan-ul-Karim Memon observed that prima facie the appointments were made without consultation with the Services, General Administration and Coordination Department and the qualifications were also relaxed, which was not permissible under the law.