SBCA officials involved in illegal issuance of building maps

KARACHI: Several officers of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) including, Acting DG Naseem-ul-Ghani Sahito were involved in the illegal issuance of building maps in the city.

Sources said that illegal occupation of public and government lands continues unabated in Karachi under the patronage of influential builders and the complacency of SBCA authorities.

Sources disclosed SBCA Acting DG Naseem-ul-Ghani Sahito summoned the concerned officers and started the process of approving the illegal maps of six buildings in the city after receiving an enormous amount of bribe.

Sources further said that out of these six buildings, two are owned by a friend of the acting DG Sahito, while illegal maps of the remaining building were approved after receiving a huge amount from builders.

“The SBCA officials are receiving Rs one crore to 50 million for the approval of a map of which the DG’s share is the highest”, sources added.

On the other hand, illegal buildings are being constructed across the city while the SBCA officials are not ready to fulfill the responsibility of evacuating and demolishing about 500 illegal buildings.

Sources added the acting DG has called a meeting to take a briefing of the maps at a time when several employees of the department and officers have fallen ill due to COVID-19 and two officers have lost their lives to the disease.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had directed the Sindh government to remove all corrupt officers from the SBCA. After which 28 corrupt officers had been suspended and their inquiry had been started.