Karachi: The Government of Sindh has announced a comprehensive overhaul of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), introducing technology-driven reforms aimed at improving transparency, efficiency, and regulatory enforcement.
Provincial Minister for Local Government, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, said the reforms follow a detailed review of operational challenges, including illegal constructions, unsafe and dilapidated buildings, delays in approvals, and complaints of corruption. The government emphasized that these measures are designed to strengthen oversight, protect public safety, and restore confidence in urban development management.
As part of the initiative, a Special Anti-Illegal Construction Task Force will be established to monitor and remove unauthorized structures. The task force will use modern drone surveillance technology for real-time detection of illegal construction, particularly in densely populated areas.
The SBCA’s Single Window Facility will be expanded across all regions to streamline public dealings and reduce bureaucratic delays. Thousands of legacy files and approval records are being digitized to prevent manipulation, improve transparency, and ensure secure management of building-related data. Category-I building approvals are already fully online, with other categories being transitioned to the digital system and integrated with the Sindh Business One Stop Shop (S-BoSS) platform.
A geo-tagged Complaint Tracking System will also be introduced, enabling citizens to submit complaints digitally and track their status in real time. Additional measures include enhanced monitoring of dangerous buildings, protection of heritage structures, and institutional accountability initiatives to curb corruption and improve service delivery.
The provincial government stated that these reforms reflect its commitment to modernizing urban governance, promoting public safety, and making the building approval process more transparent and efficient.
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