Sindh has strengthened its building regulations after the Gul Plaza tragedy, tightening fire safety rules, parking space, approvals and NOCs for projects across the province.
Why Sindh Has Updated Its Building Regulations
The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has introduced major amendments to the Building and Town Planning Regulations 2022, with immediate effect. The changes are aimed at closing gaps in fire safety enforcement and improving how buildings are supervised and approved across the province.
According to SBCA officials, the new rules were drafted in direct response to the Gul Plaza tragedy and similar incidents that exposed weaknesses in emergency access, internal safety infrastructure and oversight. By tightening standards at the planning and approval stage, the authority wants to reduce the risk of such events in the future.
The amendments apply not only to future developments but also to cases currently under review, signalling that regulators are unwilling to compromise on safety wherever there is still room to intervene.
New Parking and Access Rules for Emergency Services
One of the most visible changes in the updated regulations relates to parking and access. Builders are now required to allocate an additional 16 per cent space in every project for motorcycles and vehicles, on top of the usual parking requirements.
The regulations also mandate separate parking areas for motorcycles and for public or visitor vehicles. This segregation is intended to prevent congestion at key entry and exit points, making it easier for fire brigades, ambulances and other rescue services to reach buildings quickly during an emergency.
SBCA officials have stressed that the goal is to ensure clear, unobstructed access routes at all times, rather than allowing parking to spill into driveways, ramps and service roads where emergency vehicles need to move freely.
Centralised Licensing and Stricter Approvals
The amendments also centralise licensing procedures across Sindh. All new licences and renewals will now be issued exclusively through SBCA headquarters, rather than being handled in a scattered way at different local offices.
This shift is meant to standardise enforcement and reduce inconsistencies between districts. A single central authority can more easily track which projects have complied with safety requirements and which have not, and can apply the same rules to all builders regardless of location.
For commercial and industrial buildings in particular, the new regulations make it clear that completion plans will not be approved without a full set of fire safety-related documents and clearances, including no-objection certificates (NOCs) from civil defence, fire departments and other relevant municipal bodies.
Mandatory Firefighting Infrastructure and NOCs
Firefighting infrastructure is now a core requirement for public projects, industrial buildings and welfare plots. The revised rules require planners to include dedicated underground and overhead water tanks for firefighting as part of the original design, rather than treating them as optional add-ons.
Water storage for firefighting must be permanently built into the project, ensuring that sufficient water is available on-site if a fire breaks out. In addition, certified mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) drawings related to fire safety must be submitted to SBCA before final construction approval is granted.
Retail and commercial properties face tighter internal requirements as well. Every shop must have at least one fire extinguisher, while departmental stores are required to install one extinguisher for every 400 square feet of floor space. These measures are designed to give occupants and staff tools to respond quickly to small fires before they spread.
Impact on Builders, Businesses and Occupants
Authorities have made it clear that no commercial or industrial project will receive a completion certificate until all required NOCs from civil defence, fire services and relevant municipal bodies are on file. This ties occupancy rights directly to compliance with fire safety standards.
For builders and developers, the new regime means more detailed planning at the design stage and closer coordination with safety consultants. While this raises front-loaded compliance costs, it also reduces the risk of delays, fines or legal action later on if a project is found to be unsafe.
For businesses and occupants, the tighter rules are meant to deliver safer buildings with properly marked access routes, installed firefighting systems and clear responsibility for ongoing compliance. SBCA says the overall aim is to move from a reactive approach, where enforcement only follows disasters, to a preventive framework that builds safety into every layer of Sindh’s construction and planning process.
