Karachi, the city of lights, is now a jungle of concrete. Everywhere you look today, you will see tall buildings talking to the sky. Even on 40, 60, and 80 yards of land, people have erected many multi-storied buildings. As a result, not only the city’s infrastructure has been destroyed, but also dozens of precious lives have been lost in the collapse of buildings.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan and the Sindh High Court have taken stern action against the illegal constructions in Karachi and have started proceedings to demolish the illegal buildings and after orders for action against Makkah Terrace after the Nasla Tower and the Treasury Heights, questions are being raised as to who is responsible for these illegal constructions and how they will be brought to justice?
Illegal constructions in Karachi
If you go to any area of Karachi today, you will see buildings everywhere, Baldia Town, Mahmoodabad, Bin Qasim, Gadap, Gulberg, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Jamshed Town, Kemari, Korangi, Landhi, Liaquatabad. There is no area including Lyari, Malir, New Karachi, North Nazimabad, Orangi, Saddar, Shah Faisal, and the site where illegal constructions have not been done.
Makkah Terrace
The Sindh High Court has ordered to take action against the four-storey Makkah Terrace within a month and submit a report. An open space has also been added to the building by erecting a four-storey building on 500 square yards on street.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had ordered the demolition of race towers and vault heights. Residents of Nasla Tower have vacated the flats while the city administration is taking steps to demolish the building.
Sindh High Court
The Sindh High Court has said that now the same decision will be taken in every case. All the buildings that prove to be illegal will be expensive. The apex court has also sought the names of all the officers who gave permission for the construction of the building. The court said that it would also check the assets of the officers of the building control authority.
SBCA officials said that the pillars of the building are together, the whole building will be affected. The court directed the DG, SBCA to break all that is illegal and submit a report within a month. The court summoned the inquiry report against the responsible officers within a week.
Tall tower construction risks
Experts say that many areas of Karachi are on the fault line of the earthquake and in case of an earthquake, tall buildings can cause major damage and that is why in the past no bigger buildings than Ground Plus Two were built in Karachi. Multi-storey buildings have been built in the streets, even in the small narrow streets of the neighborhood.
In addition to the fact that these buildings often use substandard materials because they have the full support of the relevant institutions, so the builders somehow build the building and sell it to the citizens and disappear themselves and in case of any disaster, it is the people who suffer.
Problems of citizens
Despite paying the highest taxes in the country, the citizens of Karachi are facing the most problems. There is no clean drinking water or proper sewerage system in Karachi. The people of Karachi are living with dirt and garbage.
Instead of providing facilities to the people, the administration of Karachi is active in aggravating the problems. For years, people have been harassed by digging roads or blocking roads in the name of development work, but no hearing has taken place.
Who is responsible for illegal constructions? No illegal work is possible in Karachi without the help of law. If you bring two sacks of cement to pave the drain of your house, the officials of the concerned agencies will reach immediately but they will be informed that the sky is becoming a small building. Does not happen? Is this a joke?
Every institution has looted and destroyed Karachi to the best of its ability. The Supreme Court and the Sindh High Court have taken a commendable step by initiating a series of measures against illegal constructions in Karachi. The vested interest elements who have been deprived of lifelong savings should be made a warning sign.
