Association of Builders and Developers of Pakistan (ABAD) has called off its protest sit-in after the assurance given by MD Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KW&SB) to issue all 535 NOCs within a week. Talking to Business Recorder, Chairman ABAD Hassan Bakshi confirmed that ABAD had called off its sit-in protest as the KW&SB had not only issued three NOCs immediately but also assured them of releasing the rest of NOCs within a week.
He thanked to the PTI and MQM Pakistan leadership for playing active role that led this breakthrough. However, no representation from PPP was present at KW&SB head office to mitigate the agitation of the builders and developers. Furthermore, Bakshi warned that if KW&SB would be using delay-dallying tactics in the issuance of NOCs then the ABAD and its members would stage sit-in protest at CM House till the acceptance of their demand.
Needless to mention, the apex court in its decision granted permission for the construction of six-storey residential buildings in Karachi, which is subjected to the NOCs of all utilities - KW&SB, KE and SSGC. However, water utility is the only utility, which has stopped releasing NOCs that stopped some 535 residential projects and blocked the investments of around Rs 600 billion of the builders and developers for over a year.