The Supreme Court of Pakistan has decided to relocate the planned site of its new Karachi branch registry after revelations that the current location encroaches upon a natural water drain. Chief Justice Yahya Afridi chaired a meeting of the Supreme Court Building Committee in Islamabad on Monday where the decision was made. The gathering included Justices Jamal Khan Mandokhel, Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui, and Aamer Farooq, along with Registrar Muhammad Salim Khan and other officials. The Sindh government’s Chief Engineer, Communication and Works Department, briefed the committee on the project, which is funded under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). The initial plan involved expanding the existing site, but the committee deemed it unsustainable due to parking encroaching upon the water drain.
Chief Justice Afridi stressed that all Supreme Court construction projects must adhere to sustainable principles. He stated that the court cannot condone or promote encroachments, particularly on public lands and vital infrastructure. The committee unanimously voted to relocate the project and ordered the removal of obstacles from the affected water drain.
The new location will accommodate courtrooms, offices, public amenities, and facilities for the legal community. The revised project proposal (PC-1) will now be submitted to the Planning Division for review and subsequently presented to the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) for final approval. The committee emphasized the importance of all Supreme Court construction adhering to legal, environmental, and civic regulations.