SBCA Brings Back Town Offices in Karachi: What It Means for Flat Buyers

In short

SBCA now runs building control through town offices, each with directors, deputy and assistant directors and senior building inspectors (ProPakistani, ARY, 13 October). The groundwork came in June: Sindh approved 130 new SBCA posts for a town-based system, by notification of the Local Government, Housing and Town Planning Department (Dawn, 9 June). Business Recorder reported in August that SBCA approved only 1,039 public-sale projects in 16 years, with 7,230 applications pending. Before you pay for a flat, check that the building has SBCA's NOC for sale and advertisement, and that it isn't on the dangerous-buildings list.

SBCA Karachi has changed how it is organised. On 13 October 2026, ProPakistani and ARY News reported that the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has restored a town-level administrative system across Karachi's towns, replacing the district-based structure used since 2010. This post explains what changed, the approvals backlog behind it, and the checks that matter most if you are buying a flat or portion in Karachi.

What changed

According to ARY News, SBCA has "reorganised its administrative setup according to Karachi's 25 towns and appointed directors, deputy directors, assistant directors and senior building inspectors to manage affairs at the town level." SBCA says the aim is to "improve the building control system, prevent illegal construction and ensure transparent handling of administrative matters at the town level."

ProPakistani adds that officials in each town are expected to handle public complaints faster. It notes that a town system existed before, when Karachi had 18 towns, and was replaced by a district model in 2010.

This follows a June decision. Dawn reported on 9 June 2026 that the Sindh government approved "130 new positions" in SBCA to implement "a town-based management system across Karachi", under a notification saying the new system "will replace the current district-level administrative framework". We did not find a separate SBCA notice for the 13 October change.

The backlog behind it

On 17 August 2026, Business Recorder reported, based on "exclusive data obtained by Business Recorder", that SBCA had approved only 1,039 public-sale housing projects in Karachi over 16 years, while 7,230 of 8,269 applications were pending.

Gadap alone had about a third of all pending applications. Critics quoted in the report said the backlog has pushed buyers towards "portion mafias". The report also noted that a draft SBCA Act 2025, circulated in September 2025 with tougher penalties, had still not been approved by the Sindh cabinet nearly a year later.

Whether town offices clear the backlog is not yet known. For a buyer, the practical point is that many projects being marketed may not have SBCA approval yet.

Unsafe buildings are still a live issue

• SBCA's list of dangerous buildings, published on its website on 30 September 2026, gives district counts totalling 601 buildings, most of them in District South.
• On 3 September, Express Tribune reported that SBCA had started demolishing buildings declared dangerous, beginning with two severely dilapidated structures in Lyari.
• On 9 October, The Nation reported that one person was killed and two injured when part of a building collapsed in the Ranchor Line area. Authorities launched an investigation.

Past cases show what is at stake for buyers. In June 2021, the Supreme Court ordered the builders of the 15-storey Nasla Tower to refund registered buyers, describing it as illegal construction that was "liable to be demolished" (Dawn). After the July 2025 Lyari building collapse, an FIR blamed the "criminal negligence" of SBCA officials and the owner (Dawn, 10 July 2025).

Prices are indicative as of October 2026.

How to check a Karachi building before you buy

1. Check SBCA's public-sale list. SBCA's website lists "Public Sale Projects (Buildings)" by year, showing each project's NOC for sale and advertisement, with plot number, builder and NOC date. A project selling flats should be on it. If the list for the current year looks short, search earlier years too, and ask the builder for the NOC number.
2. Ask for the approved building plan, and check that the number of floors being built matches it.
3. Check the dangerous-buildings list for older buildings, especially in District South.
4. Know your town office. With the new system, complaints and queries go to the SBCA office for your town. SBCA's website also has file tracking and a complaints portal.
5. Check title separately. SBCA approval covers construction. Title and transfer are a separate check: see our Sindh property transfer and registry guide.

For rentals and prices, see flats for rent in Karachi, our Karachi property guide and more Karachi property guides.

Frequently asked questions

What did SBCA change in October 2026?

It restored town-level offices across Karachi, replacing the district-based structure used since 2010, according to ProPakistani and ARY News on 13 October 2026.

Why did SBCA move to town offices?

SBCA says the aim is to improve building control, prevent illegal construction and handle matters more transparently at the town level.

How many projects is SBCA yet to approve?

Business Recorder reported in August 2026 that 7,230 of 8,269 public-sale project applications were pending, with Gadap Town alone accounting for 2,465.

How do I check if a Karachi building is SBCA approved?

Look for the project on SBCA's public-sale projects list (NOC for sale and advertisement), and ask the builder for the NOC number and approved plan.

Where can I see SBCA's dangerous buildings list?

On SBCA's website. The version published on 30 September 2026 gives counts by district, totalling 601 buildings.

Sources

1. ProPakistani: Karachi restores old system to stop illegal construction (13 October 2026) propakistani.pk
2. ARY News: SBCA restores town-based system to curb illegal construction in Karachi (13 October 2026) arynews.tv
3. Dawn: Sindh approves 130 new SBCA posts for town-based system (9 June 2026) dawn.com
4. Business Recorder: SBCA approves only 1,039 public sale housing projects in 16 years (17 August 2026) brecorder.com
5. SBCA: Public sale projects (buildings), NOC for sale and advertisement, by year sbca.gos.pk
6. SBCA: List of dangerous buildings (published 30 September 2026) sbca.gos.pk
7. Express Tribune: Dangerous buildings face the wrecking ball (3 September 2026) tribune.com.pk
8. The Nation: One killed, two injured as building portion collapses in Karachi (9 October 2026) nation.com.pk
9. Dawn: SC orders Nasla Tower builders to refund buyers (20 June 2021) dawn.com
10. Dawn: Lyari building collapse FIR (10 July 2025) dawn.com