Sindh Real Estate News and Land Insights

Karachi | ReNews Pakistan
Authorities in Karachi have expanded measures to improve building safety standards, with a renewed focus on strengthening fire safety compliance, inspections and regulatory mechanisms across commercial and industrial properties.
The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has directed relevant departments to ensure better implementation of safety regulations, particularly regarding fire prevention measures in buildings. The move is aimed at reducing risks associated with unsafe structures and improving protection for residents, workers and visitors.
Officials said that building safety inspections would be further strengthened to ensure that commercial and industrial facilities meet required safety standards. The monitoring process will focus on compliance with approved building regulations, emergency arrangements and safety measures.
The initiative comes as part of broader efforts to improve urban management and create safer infrastructure in Karachi, where rapid development and increasing construction activity have increased the need for effective regulatory oversight.
Under the enhanced framework, authorities are focusing on improving coordination between relevant departments, increasing inspection efficiency and ensuring that building owners and developers follow mandatory safety requirements.
Experts have emphasized that effective enforcement of building codes, regular inspections and modern safety systems are essential for sustainable urban growth and protecting public infrastructure.
The measures are expected to support safer commercial spaces, improve confidence in property development and contribute to better planning and management of Karachi’s expanding urban landscape.

Karachi | ReNews Pakistan
The Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) has rejected the government’s proposed smart lockdown and refused to implement the announced petrol relief package, saying that the government should provide relief from its own funds instead of placing the financial burden on dealers.
PPDA representatives said they fear that payments may get delayed as previous commitments were not fulfilled, therefore dealers cannot provide petrol on credit under the government’s subsidy plan.
Speaking at a press conference in Karachi, PPDA Chairman Malik Khuda Bakhsh, along with Vice Chairman Tariq Hassan, Anwar Kamal, Sindh President Ameer Khan and Karachi President Saeed Khan, said dealers cannot sell petrol at a reduced price of Rs100 under the announced relief package.
He warned that if pressure was applied on dealers, petrol pumps could be closed. He said the government should arrange funds for the relief package itself instead of blocking the money of petroleum dealers.
The association also rejected the proposed smart lockdown plan, saying dealers are concerned about financial losses and uncertainty regarding payment mechanisms.
PPDA officials said they had not been taken into confidence before the announcement of the package and were not informed about how and when their payments would be returned.
Vice Chairman Tariq Hassan said dealers had been trying to contact the government for the last three days but communication was not effective.
The association said its 14,000 dealers across Pakistan would not sell petrol under the relief package from Wednesday night.
Dealers suggested that allowing oil marketing companies to directly import petroleum products could help resolve the issue.

Karachi | ReNews Pakistan
The Karachi Development Authority has announced plans to fully digitise its land records and introduce a modern barcode based file tracking system to improve transparency and monitoring.
The development was discussed on Wednesday during a meeting at the Civic Centre between KDA Director General Asif Jan Siddiqui and a delegation of the Competition Commission of Pakistan led by its member Bushra Naz Malik.
The meeting focused on institutional matters, transparency and measures aimed at protecting citizens’ interests in land-related cases.
Bushra Naz Malik briefed the KDA director general on the role of the Competition Commission of Pakistan in promoting fair competition, preventing anti competitive practices and safeguarding consumer rights.
She said the commission would continue efforts to raise public awareness and address complaints related to land matters.
Asif Jan Siddiqui said the KDA is digitising its land records in phases and developing a secure digital archive to facilitate public access. He said the digital system would allow citizens to access property-related information remotely while improving record preservation and reducing delays and irregularities.
He added that the authority would also introduce a modern barcode-based mechanism to electronically track the movement of files. The system is expected to help monitor file progress, identify delays and ensure timely action on land related matters.
Siddiqui said transparency, merit and fair competition were essential for establishing a credible and reliable institutional system.
Senior officials from both institutions also attended the meeting.