{"id":12004,"date":"2026-03-16T12:14:23","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T12:14:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hrnww.com\/?p=12004"},"modified":"2026-03-16T12:14:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T12:14:23","slug":"illegal-construction-on-30-year-old-building-sparks-safety-fears","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hrnww.com\/?p=12004","title":{"rendered":"Illegal Construction on 30-Year-Old Building Sparks Safety Fears"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"model-response-message-contentr_6f13470a295aa00f\" class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel enable-updated-hr-color\" dir=\"ltr\" aria-live=\"polite\" aria-busy=\"false\">\n<p data-path-to-node=\"0\">\n<p data-path-to-node=\"3\"><b data-path-to-node=\"3\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">KARACHI<\/b> (HRNW)\u2013 A grave violation of building safety regulations has been reported at <b data-path-to-node=\"3\" data-index-in-node=\"80\">Plot No. GRE-369, Bhayani Pride<\/b>, where the unauthorized construction of 6th and 7th floors is reportedly underway on a structure nearly three decades old. The illegal vertical expansion has triggered panic among local residents, who fear a catastrophic structural failure.<\/p>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"4\"><b data-path-to-node=\"4\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Legal Complaint Filed<\/b><\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5\">Advocate <b data-path-to-node=\"5\" data-index-in-node=\"9\">Nadeem Ahmed Jamal<\/b>, representing concerned residents of the area, has formally lodged a complaint (<b data-path-to-node=\"5\" data-index-in-node=\"108\">SCRM-20260316-6<\/b>) through the <b data-path-to-node=\"5\" data-index-in-node=\"137\">Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA)<\/b> Smart Complaint Redressal Mechanism portal. The complaint categorizes the ongoing work as &#8220;heinous and dangerous,&#8221; citing that a 30-year-old foundation is not designed to bear the additional load of two extra floors.<\/p>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"6\"><b data-path-to-node=\"6\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Allegations of Patronage and &#8220;Gratification&#8221;<\/b><\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"7\">The complaint goes beyond the bricks and mortar, leveling serious allegations against high-ranking officials. It is alleged that the construction is proceeding under the direct patronization of <b data-path-to-node=\"7\" data-index-in-node=\"194\">SBCA Director Shahid Khushk<\/b> and other subordinate staff.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"8\">Sources familiar with the matter claim that &#8220;hefty gratification&#8221; and under-the-table deals have allowed the builders to bypass the <b data-path-to-node=\"8\" data-index-in-node=\"132\">Sindh Building Control Ordinance (SBCO) 1979<\/b> and the <b data-path-to-node=\"8\" data-index-in-node=\"185\">Karachi Building &amp; Town Planning Regulations<\/b>. Residents allege that field inspectors have turned a blind eye to the site despite the obvious and visible violations.<\/p>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"9\"><b data-path-to-node=\"9\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Violation of Building Bye-Laws<\/b><\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"10\">Under the current SBCA Bye-laws, any addition or alteration to an existing structure requires:<\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"11\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"11,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"11,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Structural Stability Certificate:<\/b> A mandatory vetting by a certified structural engineer to ensure the old foundation can handle new loads.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"11,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"11,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Approved Building Plan:<\/b> No new construction can commence without a fresh NOC and approved blueprints.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"11,2,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"11,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Zoning Compliance:<\/b> Unauthorized floors often violate the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) and height restrictions designated for the area.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"12\">Legal experts note that Section 7-A of the SBCO 1979 mandates the <b data-path-to-node=\"12\" data-index-in-node=\"66\">sealing and demolition<\/b> of any structure built without an approved plan.<\/p>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"13\"><b data-path-to-node=\"13\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Public Safety at Risk<\/b><\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"14\">The local community has appealed to the <b data-path-to-node=\"14\" data-index-in-node=\"40\">Director General (DG) of SBCA<\/b> and the <b data-path-to-node=\"14\" data-index-in-node=\"78\">Local Government Minister<\/b> to intervene immediately. &#8220;We are looking at a potential human tragedy,&#8221; said one resident. &#8220;If this building collapses due to the weight of these illegal floors, the blood of the innocent will be on the hands of the SBCA officials who took bribes to look the other way.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"15\">The complainant has demanded an immediate halt to the construction, a technical audit of the building\u2019s strength, and a high-level inquiry into the alleged corruption of Director Shahid Khushk and his team.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"17\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_12004\" class=\"pvc_stats total_only  \" data-element-id=\"12004\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hrnww.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>KARACHI (HRNW)\u2013 A grave violation of building safety regulations has been reported at Plot No. GRE-369, Bhayani Pride, where the unauthorized construction of 6th and 7th floors is reportedly underway on a structure nearly three decades old. The illegal vertical expansion has triggered panic among local residents, who fear a catastrophic structural failure. Legal Complaint&#8230;<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_12004\" class=\"pvc_stats total_only  \" data-element-id=\"12004\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 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