Building Plan Approval in Pakistan

Like any civilized society, building and development in Pakistan also require proper approval from the relevant government authorities. A building Plan Approval is required before construction can begin. This article will discuss details on what a Building Plan Approval is and how it can be obtained. 

What Is A Building Plan Approval?

A building plan approval can be described as a government approval that your house or building design is in accordance with local rules. These rules include the height of the building, the area covered and the distance of the building from the boundary wall. In many places, such an approval is a basic requirement before you can start work, even digging. In Lahore, for instance, fines exist for building without permission, and additional penalties are imposed for each floor if building continues again.

Authorities In Charge of Building Plan Approvals

Getting approval for your building plan varies with the area in Pakistan. For instance, the following are the authorities responsible for issuing building plan approvals for different cities of Pakistan:

1. Islamabad: Capital Development Authority (CDA)
2. Lahore: Lahore Development Authority (LDA)
3. Rawalpindi: Rawalpindi Development Authority (RD
4. Karachi: Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA)
5. Private housing societies: Many large-scale private housing societies such as DHA and Bahria Town have maintained their own building control departments and you generally require their approval first.

Documents Required For Building Plan Approvals

When applying for a building plan approval to the relevant authority, you need to make sure that the following documents are available:

1. Registered sale deed, allotment letter or transfer letter as proof of ownership.
2. Copy of your CNIC
3. Latest receipt of property tax and possession certificate
4. Architectural drawings from a licensed architect registered with Pakistan Council of Architects and Town Planners (PCATP)
5. Structural plans signed by a registered engineer

Steps To Obtain A Building Plan Approval

For someone new to the construction industry, getting a building plan approval can be a confusing process. To ease out the process, the entire procedure is broken down into some steps, which are mentioned below:

1. Get professionals: Hire a licensed architect and structural engineer as needed.
2. Get the drawings ready: They must comply with your local building codes.
3. Send the file: The file can be sent through online platforms depending on the city.
4. Pay the fee: Fee rules vary by authority. For example, LDA has imposed a scrutiny fee on the basis of covered area.
5. Pending Review: A clean residential case with the SBCA takes about 15 days but for Lahore, for example,  timelines are often stated as several weeks.
6. Get the building plan approval:  Keep a copy of the approval on the construction site. 
7. Soil Test Report: For multi-storey buildings, the approval also requires a soil test report of the area.
8. NOC: If development is to be done in a housing society, then NOC from your housing society is sometimes needed.
9. Payment Proof: Proof of payment for the approval fee.

Building Plan Approval Fee

For every authority and area, the processing fee, also known as the scrutiny fee, varies. The charges also vary with the covered area, floors and size of the building. 

When your building is complete, the next step is to apply for a completion certificate. This verifies that the building that was approved is built per the approved plan.

Building plan approval is a formal permission granted by the respective authority allowing the construction of the building in an area. It is a legal step in construction that protects against fines and anti-encroachment campaigns. With variations in specific procedures in each area and each authority, it is important to follow the local guidelines when applying for a building approval plan.