Schools can operate in residential areas, govt will not take action: Murtaza Wahab

KARACHI: Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister for Information, Law and Anti-corruption Barrister Murtaza Wahab said schools can operate in residential areas and added they will not be sealed.

A day after the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) issued a warning notice to the private schools built on residential plots in Karachi, asking them to relocate to commercial areas, the Sindh government on Tuesday decided not to act against them.

The provincial authorities didn’t intend to take any action against such schools after winter vacation, the minister clarified, asking parents not to fret about it as schools will work as per their routine.

A day earlier, the SBCA issued a warning notice to the schools/educational institutions/tuition centres built on residential plots to relocate during coming winter vacations.

The notice stated: “It has been observed that the construction has been carried out by way of material changes in the use of land/building other than the approved building plan and land development permit, in violation of section 6(3) of SBCO 1979”.

“In view of above, all the occupants/tenants/owners within the jurisdiction of Karachi division are hereby directed to stop all such illegal activities forthwith and restore the construction to approved building plan and approved the land use plan in accordance with allotment/lease terms and conditions, for which the plan was approved. You are directed to explain the reasons as to why the action under the rules and regulation notified under section 21 of SBCO 1979 may not be initiated against you which tantamount to demolition/sealing action along with lodging of criminal FIR and filing of prosecution case in the court of law and blockage of CNIC through NADRA”