The Control Authority of Sindh (SBCA) has withdrawn its notification allowing commercial activities in residential plots.
A written statement confirming the withdrawal was presented to the Superior Court of Sindh by the general director of SBCA, Muhammad Ishaq Khuhro.
The Superior Court was listening to requests filed against SBCA’s move to allow commercial use of residential plots.
In his written response, SBCA declared that he was terminating the notification issued on March 13, 2025.
After this, the court eliminated the requests presented by Jamaat-E-Islami and others.
The requests, presented by the opposition leader of the City Council, Saifuddin, defender and nine presidents of the city, argued that SBCA had modified the Karachi building and the municipal planning regulations to change the definition of service plots. They argued that service plots cannot be used legally for purposes other than their original intention.
The petitioners also affirmed that the amendment eliminated the “medical care” of the list of uses approved for service plots and that the residential land was being reused for education, medical care and recreational use without public consent.
They argued that the review also eliminated the public’s right to object to land transfers.
Separately, SBCA has revoked the recent amendments made to the planning regulations of Karachi and Karachi Building 2002. This reversion followed a policy review of the changes introduced through the March notification.
According to the last SBCA circular, the amendments have been canceled with immediate effect. The authority exercised its powers under section 21-A of the Control Ordinance of the Sindh building, 1979 and other relevant provisions.
The circular was officially signed by the general director Muhammad Ishaq Khuhro.
