KARACHI: In a major move to curb fire incidents and enhance urban safety, the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has issued a notification regarding comprehensive amendments to the building regulations. These changes, enacted under the Karachi Building and Town Planning Regulations (Amendment) 2026, are effective immediately across Sindh.
Key Regulations and Compliance Requirements Every retail shop is now required to have at least one fire extinguisher, while departmental stores must install one extinguisher for every 400 square feet of area. All public sale projects, industrial buildings, and amenity plots must now include dedicated underground and overhead water tanks specifically for firefighting purposes. Completion plans for these buildings will no longer be approved without a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Civil Defence, the Fire Brigade, or relevant local government departments. Furthermore, developers are strictly required to submit certified Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) drawings before obtaining final construction permits. To ensure unobstructed access for rescue vehicles during emergencies, additional space for motorcycle and visitor parking must be provided over and above the standard parking requirements.
Addressing Past Failures DG SBCA, Muzammil Hussain Halepoto, stated that these reforms aim to bridge existing gaps in fire safety enforcement and building oversight. He noted that these loopholes were major factors in past tragedies, specifically citing the Gul Plaza fire incident. Under the revised framework, fire safety has been integrated as a mandatory component of the building approval and completion process, ensuring that high-risk structures are better equipped to handle emergencies.
