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In a move to save thousands of commercial establishments that were previously illegal, the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has amended building rules to allow businesses to operate legally on residential plots in Karachi.
This decision may save some businesses, but experts warned that it could worsen the city’s already weak infrastructure, leading to an increase in shops, schools, clinics, and restaurants in residential areas.
The SBCA has amended the Karachi Building and Town Planning Regulations (KBTPR) 2002 under which residential plots can be used for commercial and recreational purposes.
It is worth noting here that the various benches of the Sindh High Court (SHC) have issued orders on several petitions filed by citizens against running schools, restaurants, and other commercial establishments in their respective residential areas in violation of building and town planning laws.
The SHC has ordered authorities to take action against illegal commercial establishments but no action was taken by the authorities.
In February, the SHC even issued arrest warrants for a Karachi Development Authority (KDA) official and a property owner for ignoring court orders. Despite this, businesses continued to operate on residential land in the metropolis.
According to media reports, the SBCA failed to implement court decisions because many of these businesses on residential plots are owned by influential individuals. Instead of shutting them down, the SBCA found a legal way to allow them to continue.
Key Amendments in KBTPR 2025
The draft amendments were forwarded by the SBCA to the Law Department for review. Following this, SBCA Director General Ishaq Khuhro issued a notification on March 13, amending the KBTPR 2002.
Some of the major changes in KBTPR 2002 include:
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Redefining Amenity Plots (Chapter 19)
Previously, amenity plots were reserved for government, health, welfare, education, parks, religious spaces, cemeteries, and recreational use.
The KBTPR 2025 amendment removed “health and welfare” and “education” from the definition of amenity plots.
This change allows schools, hospitals, and clinics to operate commercially on residential plots.
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Introducing “Commercial/Residential with Commercial Use”
The category of “commercial use” was replaced with “commercial/residential with commercial use”.
This means residential buildings can now operate as businesses without restriction.
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Expanding Residential Use (Chapter 19)
The definition of “residential use” now includes:
- Educational institutions (schools, colleges, universities, madrasas, research centers, fine arts institutes, etc.)
- Healthcare facilities (hospitals, clinics, maternity homes, mental health centers, veterinary clinics, etc.)
- Recreational facilities (cafes, food courts, and other social venues)
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Defining Recreational Use
A new clause in Chapter 19 defines “recreational use” as:
Any facility, space, or activity that promotes community interaction and social well-being.
This includes cafes, restaurants, and social gathering places that benefit the neighborhood.
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Changing Land Use Rules (Chapter 18)
Residential plots of at least 400 square yards on roads 60 feet wide or more can now be used for:
- Educational institutions
- Healthcare facilities
- Recreational businesses
According to an SBCA official, this change was made because forcing businesses to relocate was impractical. Thousands of schools, clinics, and restaurants already exist in residential areas, and relocation is not a viable solution.
However, urban planners warn that builders might misuse these amendments, leading to overcrowded neighborhoods, traffic congestion, and weaker infrastructure. Experts stress the need for strict regulations to prevent abuse of this new law.
However, he stressed the need for checks and balances as he suspected that the builder mafia would misuse the amendments in their favour.
