Under the Act, no extra construction is allowed. Sources said that nobody including the owner could carry out any construction activity in a site protected under the Act. Violation of the ban prescribes long prison terms and heavy fines, they added. It is mandatory that a no-objection certificate (NOC) and permission should be obtained from the advisory committee on cultural affairs, which is headed by the Sindh chief secretary, before carrying out any construction activity in any protected site.
It has been reported that 15 heritage buildings were set ablaze by miscreants following the Ashura blast. The building were either completely or partially affected in the fire and the roof of almost every affected building has collapsed. Talking to Business Recorder, former president, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), and member of Karachi Affected Markets Relief Committee (KAMRC), A. Q. Khalil said that City Nazim Mustafa Kamal had taken the responsibility of reconstruction of the entire buildings damaged in the arson.
He said that City District Government Karachi owned Boulton Market and Lunda Bazaar and all the shopkeepers were tenants of CDGK. "So there is no problem in construction of these buildings, as these does not fall in the buildings protected under Heritage Act," he added.
He said that some of the affected businessmen have already started construction of the buildings on their own. The city government has advised all those, who have started construction of the building, to let the CDGK carry out the construction of the buildings.
The CDGK has also asked them to collect cheques of the money they have spent on reconstruction of the buildings, so for from CDGK A.Q. Khalil said that there were some problems in reconstruction of heritage buildings damaged in December 28 incident. He said that the requirements to be fulfilled before reconstruction of such buildings under the law would take some time.
Meanwhile Chairman, KAMRC and Advisor to Chief Minister Sindh, Zubair Motiwala, in a statement, said that the next meeting of the committee has been convened on January 22, wherein all the claims received after processing and scrutiny will be discussed. The meeting will specify and determine the absolute amount of the claim and initial payments against small claims will be disbursed.
He said that instructions were given for processing and scrutinising all the claims submitted by January 20, 2010. Motiwala said that there was unanimity on the issue of reconstruction of destroyed markets/buildings and affectees would be given the same possession as they had on 28-December 2009 after the reconstruction by Sindh government.
He reiterated the intent that the distribution of relief cheques to the victims of tragic incident of December 28 would start from this month. He stated that seven special desks were established at KCCI, which were processing and scrutinising the claim forms in consultation with the authorised representatives of the affected markets.
He said that about 2200 forms were processed till date and 60 percent work was completed. Zubair Motiwala conveyed his gratitude to Governor Sindh, Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan and Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah for expressing their complete satisfaction on the performance of the committee.
He further stated that on Friday Sindh's Home Minister, Zulfiqar Mirza, visited KCCI to observe the performance of the committee and pace of the work and expressed his complete satisfaction. He appealed to media that before publishing any news, they should examine and verify the authenticity of news by contacting spokesman of KAMRC, A. Q. Khalil and not pay attention to speculations.
Meanwhile, Chairman Businessmen Group, Siraj Kasim Teli, President, Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), Abdul Majid Haji Muhammad, Vice Chairmen & former presidents of KCCI, Tahir Khaliq, and other in a press statement announced that KCCI's Secretariat will remain open on Sunday (today) in order to facilitate the affectees of Boulton and other adjoining markets of M. A. Jinnah Road.
They assured that Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) office-bearers, managing committee members, heads and members of the seven sub committees and secretariat staff will be available on Sunday to facilitate the affectees. They said the affectees and the authorised representatives of the affected markets may contact Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) to submit their claims, survey/maps of damaged/ destroyed markets/buildings for reconstruction along with necessary information. They also requested that the claim forms, survey/offers for reconstruction of damaged/destroyed buildings must be submitted positively by January 20, 2010, afterwards the same would not be received and entertained.