The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has announced strict action against builders who fail to complete housing projects within the approved timeframe, in a move aimed at protecting homebuyers and improving accountability in the construction sector.
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Provincial Minister for Local Government and Housing & Town Planning Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said defaulting builders would face punitive measures including suspension of licences, de-listing or blacklisting, and a ban on approvals for future projects.
The minister directed SBCA Director General Muzammil Hussain Halepoto to immediately compile a list of all housing projects that remain incomplete despite the expiry of their approved completion period. The review aims to identify projects where delays have extended possession timelines and created uncertainty for buyers.
Shah said the decision was taken to safeguard citizens’ interests and ensure transparency, discipline and accountability in the construction sector. He noted that the government has received numerous complaints about builders delaying projects, leaving families burdened with rent, loan repayments and uncertainty over property possession.
“The protection of consumer rights is our top priority,” the minister said, adding that the government would not allow anyone to exploit citizens who invest their life savings in housing schemes.
He warned that developers responsible for unnecessary delays due to negligence or bad faith would face action under the law.
The minister also urged the Association of Builders and Developers of Pakistan (ABAD) to discourage such practices within the industry and support efforts to improve compliance and ethical standards in the real estate sector in Karachi.
