Karachi Division

Karachi : ReNews Pakistan
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab has inaugurated the rehabilitated Memon Goth Road, a major road infrastructure project completed at a cost of Rs 233.5 million, aimed at improving connectivity and easing traffic movement between Karachi and Malir.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the mayor said the rehabilitation of the road had significantly improved transportation facilities for residents and commuters using the route. He noted that improved road infrastructure had helped reduce travel time between the city and Malir to approximately 15 to 20 minutes, providing greater convenience to motorists and local communities.
Wahab said the road project was carried out after completing essential supporting infrastructure works. According to him, traffic-related arrangements, sewerage works and base preparation were completed before the road construction and rehabilitation work began.
The mayor emphasized that completing underground and foundational infrastructure before laying the roads was important for ensuring the durability of newly developed road networks and reducing the need for repeated excavation after completion.
He further said that the Karachi administration was continuing work on several other road projects across the city. Construction and rehabilitation work on a number of roads along Makran Road has already commenced, while the tendering process for additional road projects is currently in progress.
Wahab said these initiatives were part of broader efforts to improve Karachi's road network, strengthen connectivity between different areas and facilitate smoother traffic flow.
He also highlighted progress on the proposed dual carriageway connecting Karachi Airport with Malir Cantt. The project is expected to provide an important transportation link between the airport, Malir and surrounding areas.
According to the mayor, the planned connectivity will also extend toward Kathore and the rear side of the airport, ultimately linking these areas with the motorway. The development is expected to improve access to key transport corridors and support the movement of residents, businesses and commercial traffic.
The ongoing road development projects reflect the city's focus on upgrading major transportation routes alongside essential municipal infrastructure. The administration has maintained that completing sewerage and other underground works before road construction can help prevent damage to newly built roads and ensure more sustainable urban development.
With the Memon Goth Road rehabilitation now completed and additional projects moving into construction and tendering stages, authorities are seeking to expand and modernize Karachi's road infrastructure while improving travel times and connectivity across the metropolitan area.

Karachi : ReNews Pakistan
The Sindh Master Plan Authority has withdrawn the notification that had imposed an immediate ban on the conversion of residential land for commercial and recreational use in Karachi, marking a significant development in the city’s long running and contentious land-use dispute.
The withdrawal has been made in compliance with the Federal Constitutional Court’s order issued on May 12, 2026, effectively removing the restrictions imposed through a Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) notification issued in January 2019.
Officials, however, clarified that the withdrawal of the notification does not mean that residential properties can automatically be converted into commercial properties. Any change in land use will continue to remain subject to the applicable laws, approved master plans, zoning regulations and permission from the relevant competent authorities.
The latest notification formally implements the Federal Constitutional Court’s ruling and directs all concerned departments and stakeholders to ensure strict compliance with the court’s order in letter and spirit.
The issue of residential to commercial conversion has remained a major source of controversy in Karachi for several years. Property owners, developers and businesses have repeatedly sought clarity over the legal status of land use conversions, particularly in areas where residential properties have gradually become centers of commercial activity.
The restrictions became particularly significant following Supreme Court orders issued in December 2018 and January 2019. Subsequently, the SBCA issued a notification freezing land-use changes, creating uncertainty for property owners and developers seeking approval for commercial utilization of residential plots.
Amenity Plots Remain Protected Under Court’s Directions
The Federal Constitutional Court had earlier lifted the general ban on the conversion of residential plots into commercial and recreational use, providing relief to property owners, builders and developers affected by the previous restrictions.
At the same time, the court made it clear that amenity plots cannot be converted for commercial or residential purposes. These include parks, hospitals, schools, mosques, playgrounds and graveyards, which are required to retain their designated public and community-oriented purposes.
During the proceedings, Justice Aamer Farooq observed that the court would not interfere with the routine functioning of institutions such as the Sindh Building Control Authority. The court also noted that affected parties retained the right to challenge or appeal decisions arising from High Court proceedings in accordance with the law.
The court further observed that its suo motu jurisdiction was no longer available and that existing laws and regulatory mechanisms were sufficient to address violations of building and land-use regulations.
Senior Director Shakeel Siddiqui, whose signature appears on the latest notification, said the new land-use regime would take effect immediately.
The development is expected to have implications for Karachi’s property market, particularly for owners of residential plots, developers and businesses operating in areas where commercial activity has expanded over the years.
However, the withdrawal of the earlier notification does not remove the requirement for regulatory scrutiny. Property owners seeking commercialization will still have to comply with zoning rules, master plans, building regulations and approval procedures prescribed by the relevant authorities.
The latest move therefore marks the beginning of a new phase in Karachi’s land-use policy rather than an unrestricted opening of residential areas for commercial development. The implementation of the court’s order, and how regulatory authorities process future land-use applications, is likely to remain closely watched by the city’s property sector.

Karachi | ReNews Pakistan
The Sindh government has launched a province-wide fire safety compliance drive, directing all provincial departments to ensure that public buildings and institutions under their control meet prescribed fire safety standards within 15 days.
Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah issued the directives during a high-level meeting held on Thursday following a province-wide audit of 3,354 public buildings. The administration has been instructed not only to install fire safety systems but also to ensure that all equipment remains functional, properly maintained and immediately available in case of an emergency.
Under the directive, administrative departments and divisional commissioners must submit signed compliance certificates within 15 days, confirming that buildings under their jurisdiction have adequate and operational fire safety arrangements.
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the audit covered 798 buildings in Karachi Division, 1,287 in Hyderabad, 420 in Larkana, 129 in Mirpurkhas, 418 in Shaheed Benazirabad and 302 in Sukkur.
The Chief Secretary emphasized that fire safety measures should not be treated as a paperwork exercise. Authorities have been directed to verify the operational condition of safety systems and ensure that buildings remain prepared to respond to fires and other emergencies.
The government has placed particular emphasis on facilities used by vulnerable groups and large numbers of people. These include hospitals, schools, colleges, hostels, prisons, child protection centres, orphanages, Dar-ul-Amans and bus terminals.
The compliance campaign will also extend to commercial centres, markets and industrial establishments, where fire incidents can potentially result in significant loss of life and property because of high occupancy, electrical loads, machinery and other hazards.
The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has separately been directed to submit a report within 15 days regarding more than 580 buildings declared dangerous across the province. The report is expected to provide authorities with a clearer assessment of the safety risks associated with these structures and help determine further action.
Meanwhile, hospitals are also being brought under a stricter inspection regime. The Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC) has announced that its inspection teams will conduct unannounced fire safety inspections at healthcare facilities across the province.
The surprise inspections are intended to determine whether fire safety arrangements are genuinely operational rather than merely documented for regulatory purposes. Inspection teams will examine fire alarms, fire extinguishers and other emergency safety equipment, as well as records showing their inspection, servicing and maintenance.
The latest measures reflect growing concern over fire safety standards in public and institutional buildings and the need for authorities to ensure that emergency systems are functional before an incident occurs.
With departments given a 15-day deadline to submit compliance certificates, provincial authorities are expected to closely monitor implementation and take further action against facilities that fail to meet the required safety standards.