KARACHI BUILDING & TOWN PLANNING REGULATIONS-2002 

CHAPTER 4 – LICENCING / REGISTRATION OF PROFESSIONALS 

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4-Licensing / Registration of Professionals

4-1. Qualifications 

The following tables list the requisite qualifications for various categories of Professionals and Firms. 

4-1.1. Qualifications of the professionals:

Architect.	A person recognized as such under PCATP Ordinance-ix of 1983 and Rules & Regulations framed thereunder.
Building Supervisor Category “I” Category “II” Category “III”	Three years diploma in Civil Engineering or Architecture plus minimum Two years’ experience in Building Construction.  Three years diploma in Civil Engineering or Architecture plus minimum Five years’ experience in Building Construction. Three years diploma in Civil Engineering or Architecture plus minimum Ten years’ experience in Building Construction.
Building Designer	Three years diploma in Civil Engineering or Architecture plus three years practical experience of working as Building Supervisor, (no new license shall be issued).
Professional Engineer (Civil)	A person recognized as such under PEC Act and Rules & Regulations framed thereunder.
Proof Engineer	A person registered with Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) as Professional Engineer (Civil) and enlisted by the Authority as per clause 4-12.
Structural Engineer	A professional Civil Engineer recognized as Consulting Engineer under PEC Act.
Town Planner	A person recognized as such by PCATP. Ordinance-ix of 1983 and Rules & Regulations framed thereunder.

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4-1.2. Qualification/entitlement of firms (as per regulations of PEC). 

Constructors registered with the PEC will be registered as Builders by the Authority on production of their PEC registration certificates and the payment of a fee determined and revised by the Oversee Committee and approved by the Authority.

	QUALIFICATION	ENTITLEMENT
Geo-Technical Laboratory	- Fully equipped laboratory having     technical staff as follows: - Geo-tech consultant, registered with   PEC as consultant (Geology or Soil Science). - List of all Soil Testing equipment required.	Soil Testing and recommendations for foundations for all types of Buildings and Projects.
Material Testing Laboratory	-  Fully equipped laboratory having technical staff as follows: - Registered as Professional Engineer  (Civil) with PEC, minimum five years’ experience in field and technical paper/article on material /soil testing. - Material / Soil Engineer (B.E Civil) registered as professional Engineer (Civil) with PEC and with minimum five years of experience. - List of all Material Testing equipment required.	Material testing of all Buildings and Projects.

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4-2. Manner of Grant of License 

4-2.1. Any person and/or firm who holds the qualifications and experiences laid down in these Regulations, may apply on a prescribed Form to the Authority for license. 

4-2.2. The qualifications and experiences required for license in a particular category wherever required in these Regulations. 

4-2.3. When an application for the grant of license has been approved by the Licensing Committee, the applicant will be informed accordingly and will be required to deposit the license fee (Schedule 4A). 

4-3. Licensing Committee 

4-3.1. The application for grant of license to professional or firm shall be considered by a Committee consisting of: 

4-3.1.1. Chief Controller of Buildings – Chairman 

4-3.1.2. One nominee each from: 

a) Pakistan Council of Architects and Town Planners (PCATP) who has at least 10 years of experience in design and planning of buildings. - Member 

b) Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) who has at least 10 years of experience in Structural Design of building works. - Member

c) Institute of Engineers Pakistan (IEP) who has at least 10 years of experience in Structural Design of building works. - Member 

d) Institute of Architects Pakistan (IAP) who has at least 10 years of experience in design and planning of buildings. - Member e) Controller of Buildings (Licensing) – Member/Secretary 

4-3.2. The Committee shall hold its meeting at least every one month or as and when required. 

4-3.2.1. The quorum of this Committee shall be four out of which two must be representatives of Professional Bodies.

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4-4. Functions of the Licensing Committee 

4-4.1. The Committee shall decide the cases in the light of these Regulations. It shall also hear the appeals against rejection of licenses. 

4-4.2. The Committee shall interview the applicants for grant of license. 

4-4.3. The Committee, before approving or rejecting an application, shall also see besides prescribed qualifications and experience, the capability of the applicant. 

4-4.4. The Committee at the time of interview for grant of license shall inspect the original documents submitted and may: 

4-4.4.1. grant the license; or 

4-4.4.2. reject the application, specifying the reasons thereof. 

4-4.5. On the recommendation of the Committee, Controller of Buildings (Licensing) / Secretary (Licensing Committee) shall issue license or inform the applicant of the rejection with reasons, as the case may be. 

4-4.6. The Committee shall hear the appeals against the orders of “suspension of license” issued by the Chief Controller of Buildings and shall decide the cases. 

4-5. Registration & De-Registration 

4-5.1. When an application for a license has been approved by the Committee, the license shall be issued to the applicant. 

4-5.2. No person shall practice in City District Karachi who is not licensed by the Authority except the professionals registered with Pakistan Council of Architect & Town Planners (PCATP) and Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC), as Architect, Town Planner and Engineers. The professional employed in public sector shall not be allowed to practice except for the works of their concerned department. 

4-5.3. Professionals and or constructors registered / enlisted with the PCATP / PEC will be registered by the Authority on production of their PCATP / PEC registration / enlistment certificates duly revalidated. However Authority shall have the power to de-register professionals firms and builders (architects, town planners, engineers, developers) in case of misconduct. A Committee headed by an appointee of the Oversee Committee in which Authority, PCATP, PEC and the building developers are represented, should be formed to decide on such cases. In order to make this operative enclosed schedule should be incorporated. 

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4-6. Validity period of License

The licenses granted under these Regulations shall be valid for a calendar year ending on 31st December. 

4-7. License & Renewal Fees 

4-7.1. The applicant of a fresh license granted under these Regulations shall pay the fee as prescribed in Schedule 4A. Any fee paid to the Authority shall not be refundable. 

4-7.2. The application for renewal of license that has been granted under these Regulations accompanied by such fee as prescribed in Schedule 4A shall be made to the Authority on prescribed Form. 

4-7.3. If the application for renewal of license has not been submitted within the allowed time, late fee shall be charged in addition to usual fee as prescribed in Schedule 4A. 

4-8. Revocation of License 

Without prejudice to any other action that may be authorized under the Ordinance or the rules framed thereunder the Authority may revoke or suspend the license of a Licensee/firm etc. after issuance of show cause notice and, if the licensee fails to satisfy the Authority in respect of the violation of these regulations as allegedly committed by him from the Authority. 

4-9. Appeal against the Decision of Licensing Committee 

4-9.1. Any person aggrieved by an order of the Authority under these Regulations or against the decision of the licensing committee may refer an appeal to the Oversee Committee for review of the decision. The decision so made shall be final. 

4-9.2. The period of limitation for filing such appeal under these regulations shall be 90 days from the date of receipt of cause for such grievances. 

4-10. Reasons for cancellation/suspension of License 

4-10.1. The licensee disobeys or fails to comply with any Regulations or directions issued by the Authority from time to time or any rule framed under the Ordinance amended up-to-date and the provisions of these Regulations. 

4-10.2. The licensee in case of individual or in case of registered company, its directors/partners, shall personally and severally be held responsible for the breach of any provision of the Ordinance amended up-to-date, and rules and regulations framed thereunder. 

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4-10.3. The licensee executes and supervises any unauthorized work or any work which is being raised in the absence of a Development Permit, or is not in accordance with the specifications, plans, design and drawings approved by the Authority except with allowable variations as given in these Regulations and allowed under Engineering codes. 

4-10.4. The licensee disturbs, defies or breaks the discipline of any office of the Authority.

4-10.5. The licensee willfully obstructs the officers of the Authority in carrying out their duties, fails to provide facilities for inspecting the building/site and refuses to furnish the required information from time to time. 

4-10.6. The licensee fails to comply with these Regulations. 

4-10.7. The licensee willfully misrepresents any fact or makes any false statement to the Authority or suppresses information of any material fact relating to the work for which he has been engaged. 

4-11. Period of Suspension 

The license of the Licensee shall be suspended until the rectification of the cause of suspension or for maximum period as given below: 

4-11.1. First time suspension Six months. 

4-11.2. Second time suspension One year 

4-11.3. In case the license violates the terms and conditions as per these Regulations for the third time the license shall stand cancelled. 

4-12. Committee for Enlistment of Proof Engineers 

4-12.1. Chief Controller of Buildings - Chairman 4-12.2.One nominee each from: 

4-12.2.1. Pakistan Council of Architects and Town Planners (PCATP) who has at least 15 years of practical experience in the professional field. - Member 

4-12.2.2. Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) who has at least 15 years of practical experience in Structural design of building works. - Member 

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4-12.2.3. Institution of Engineers (IEP) who has at least 15 years of practical experience in structural design of building works. - Member 

4-12.2.4. Controller of Buildings (Structure) - Secretary Quorum of this Committee shall be three out of which two must be representatives of Professional Bodies. 

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Schedule 4A REGISTRATION / LICENSING FEES 

These fees may be revised subject to the approval of Oversee Committee formed under Ordinance. Table 1. Fees for Registration / renewal of Builder / Developer Registration

i.	Fees for Builder Registration:	Rs. 30,000/-
ii.	Renewal of Builders/Developers Registration	20% of the fees for registration
iii.	Restoration fees for Builders/Developers registration.	Original Fee

Note: If license / registration was not renewed for three consecutive years then the license shall be deemed to be cancelled and new application would be required. 

Table 2. Fees for grant/renewal of License to Firms (Soil/Material testing laboratories)

i.	Fees for granting license to firm	Rs. 7,500/-
ii.	Renewal of firm’s license	20% of fees for granting license
iii.	Restoration fees for firm's license,	Original License Fee

Note: If license is not renewed for three consecutive years, then the license shall be deemed to be cancelled and new application would be required. 

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4-Licensing / Registration of Professionals 

Schedule 4A REGISTRATION / LICENSING FEES cont. /2 Table 3. Fees for registration / renewal of Professional Registration.

i.	License / registration fees	Rs.500/-
ii.	Renewal fees	Rs.250/-
iii.	Restoration fees	Rs.500/-

Note: If registration is not renewed for three consecutive years, then it shall be deemed to be cancelled and new registration / licensing would be required.