Sindh Government will soon issue a notification for devising a Master Plan for Karachi after Sindh Water Commission (SWC) directed it to comply with the orders of Supreme Court of Pakistan. The assurance came when Sindh Water Commission (SWC) took up the issue of Master Plan for Karachi. In March 2018, the commission had passed an order directing the Sindh Government to issue a formal notification for the Master Plan, which was approved by Supreme Court in its judgment/ order in 2007.
Shabbir Shah, Additional Advocate General (AAG) Sindh expressed his ignorance about the issuance of notification by Sindh Government about Master Plan. However, Director General (DG) Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) disclosed that pursuant to the directives of the commission, a summary was floated that was returned later, which is perhaps violation of Article 189 of the Constitution.
The commission headed by former Justice Amir Hani Muslim restrained from issuing any order for delay in issuance of notification on the assurance of the AAG that notification will be issued promptly in compliance of the orders of Supreme Court without any further delay.
A compliance report shall be submitted positively a day after to the commission, the AAG assured. The commission ruled that punitive action would be taken against the authorities concerned if its' order for Master Plan was not implemented.
Taking up the issue of conversion of industrial plots into commercial ones within industrial zones in Karachi and other parts of Sindh, the AAG submitted to the commission that the Secretary Industries has been transferred and hopefully, the present Secretary will continue till these proceedings are completed.
Chief Secretary Sindh also has now been appointed and he also needs to be briefed on the issue, the AAG stated. In view of these reasons, the AAG requested the commission to grant time.
The commission ordered the AAG to come up with the government's version on October 9, 2018. In the intervening period Abdul Sattar Pirzada Advocate shall be supplied all the relevant correspondence on the issue by the AAG within three days from today, the commission directed.
The commission also ordered to issue notices to owners of eight plots for converting these plots from industrial to commercial after it was informed that permission was not taken from the department concerned in this regard. The commission ordered its focal person to go through a compliant regarding removal of encroachments from public roads creating public and environmental nuisance, rectifying water, sanitation and garbage disposal issues in Gulshan Town.
The commission granted four-month time to a pharmaceutical firm for installing the treatment plant, failing which the factory will be sealed.
The commission also directed to a food company to install treatment plant in four-month time, failing which the factory would be sealed.
Representative of another food company told the commission that they will ensure that the officials of SEPA will not be intercepted by guards at the gate. "SEPA officials will have free access to the industry, failing which the FIR shall be registered against the owner for obstructing the government officials in discharge of their duties," the commission directed.