Sindh Real Estate News and Land Insights

The Karachi administration has completed fire safety audits of 1,369 buildings across the city's seven districts as part of an extensive inspection campaign launched under the directives of the Sindh government to strengthen building safety standards and prevent fire-related emergencies.

The progress was reviewed during a meeting chaired by Commissioner Karachi Syed Hassan Naqvi at his office on November 11, 2026, where officials presented detailed reports on inspections, safety assessments, regulatory compliance and enforcement measures.

According to the briefing, the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has begun uploading approved building plans and maps to the Commissioner Karachi Safety Audit Portal. Documentation for 207 buildings has been uploaded to facilitate emergency planning and improve coordination among firefighting agencies.

Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi directed deputy commissioners, SBCA officials and other relevant departments to accelerate inspections and ensure that identified fire hazards are eliminated without unnecessary delays. He emphasised that compliance with prescribed fire safety regulations must be ensured in residential, commercial and other buildings covered by the inspection programme.

The meeting reviewed district-wise progress, including audits of 287 buildings in Korangi, 113 in Central, 107 in East, 103 in West and 98 in South. Officials also presented findings from inspections conducted by eight departments involved in the citywide safety campaign.

Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) analyst Diyal Das Rathore briefed participants on risk assessments, the classification of non-compliant buildings, follow-up inspections and emergency evacuation exercises. The meeting was informed that repeated inspections had helped reduce safety risks in several previously identified buildings. However, the commissioner instructed officials to revisit properties where deficiencies remained and ensure implementation of all necessary preventive measures.

Authorities reported that assistant commissioners had issued reminder notices to 17 buildings failing to comply with fire safety requirements, while one building had been sealed. Fire drills have also been conducted in 279 buildings to assess emergency preparedness and strengthen evacuation procedures.

In another significant decision, firefighters from the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Fire Brigade and Rescue 1122 will receive specialised training in interpreting building plans. The SBCA will coordinate the training programme in collaboration with the Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD).

The initiative is intended to help emergency responders understand building layouts, access routes and internal structures during firefighting and rescue operations. ABAD will also upload building plans of relevant properties to the digital safety portal to support coordinated emergency response.

Commissioner instructed departments to strengthen standard operating procedures, improve interdepartmental coordination and take enforcement action against persistent violations. He stressed that notices, follow-up inspections and building closures should be undertaken wherever necessary to ensure compliance with safety regulations.

The ongoing campaign is particularly significant for Karachi's residential and commercial property sector, where building safety compliance remains essential for protecting occupants, businesses and property investments. Authorities believe that systematic inspections, digital building records and improved emergency training will strengthen fire prevention measures across the metropolis.

The administration has directed all concerned departments to complete the remaining audits and ensure that buildings meet the required safety standards.

A high-level Saudi business delegation has expressed keen interest in investment and trade cooperation at Gwadar Port. The delegation discussed opportunities in cargo services, transit trade, transshipment and proposed energy terminals with Pakistani officials.
The Saudi delegation visited the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) head office, where Gwadar Port Chairman Noorul Haq Baloch briefed its members on the port’s commercial potential, operational capabilities, strategic location and available investment opportunities.

The meeting reviewed the potential to develop Gwadar Port into an important regional hub for trade and cargo movement. The Saudi delegation showed particular interest in investment and cooperation in cargo handling, transit trade and transshipment.

Participants also discussed the proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) terminals at Gwadar Port, including possible Saudi investment in their construction. Baloch told the delegation that Gwadar’s geographical location gave it significance for regional and international trade. He also highlighted the port’s potential to become a major centre for transit trade and transshipment in the region.

The Saudi delegation expressed particular interest in Gwadar’s geographical and commercial importance outside the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as a potentially valuable location for cooperation in maritime trade and logistics.
During the meeting, Saudi-Pakistan Business Council Chairman Prince Mansour Al Saud accepted an invitation to visit Gwadar Port. The delegation said it would visit soon to assess the port’s commercial, operational and investment opportunities.

The participants also discussed ways to expand maritime trade, port services, investment in the energy sector and broader economic cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

No specific investment agreement, project cost or final investment amount was announced during the meeting.

The Sindh government has granted in-principle approval for the construction of a multi-storey parking plaza in Karachi’s Clifton area at an estimated cost of Rs 1.61 billion, aiming to improve parking facilities and address growing demand in one of the city’s major residential and commercial districts. The approval was granted during a meeting of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Policy Board, chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, where several infrastructure development proposals involving private-sector participation were reviewed.

According to the proposed plan, the parking plaza will be constructed on a 1,352-square-yard plot owned by the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) in Clifton Block 2, near Ziauddin Hospital. The facility will accommodate 96 cars and 160 motorcycles simultaneously. Limited commercial facilities will also be incorporated into the development, allowing space for business activities alongside organised vehicle parking.

The project is proposed to be implemented through a public-private partnership under the Design, Build, Operate and Transfer (DBOT) model. A concession period of 35 years has been proposed, during which the private sector would participate in developing and operating the facility under an agreed contractual arrangement. The meeting also considered opportunities to expand organised parking infrastructure across Clifton.

The PPP Policy Board approved the inclusion of 41 additional KDA-owned parking sites in Clifton Blocks 1 to 7 and Block 9 within the scope of work assigned to transaction advisers. These locations will undergo technical and financial assessments to determine whether they can be developed into parking facilities through similar public-private partnership arrangements.

The proposed parking plaza forms part of broader efforts to improve urban infrastructure in Clifton, where hospitals, commercial establishments, offices and residential developments generate substantial demand for vehicle parking. The addition of organised parking capacity is expected to provide motorists with an alternative to roadside parking and potentially improve access to surrounding commercial and residential properties. Commercial facilities incorporated into the proposed development could also generate economic activity. However, details regarding the allocation, size and management of these commercial spaces have not yet been finalised.

The assessment of the additional 41 sites could help authorities identify further opportunities to expand parking infrastructure across Clifton. Their inclusion in the evaluation process does not, however, constitute approval for construction at those locations. Officials have not announced a commencement date, construction timeline, private-sector partner or expected completion schedule for the proposed plaza.

The in-principle approval represents an initial step towards implementation rather than authorisation for immediate construction. Further progress will depend on the completion of technical evaluations, financial and contractual arrangements, and other necessary administrative procedures.

Once implemented, the project could strengthen parking infrastructure in Clifton while establishing a framework for additional parking developments through private-sector participation.