One of Pakistan’s largest land developers barred from advertising, selling property in southern Pakistan

The undated photo shows the entrance of Bahria Town Karachi. (Photo courtesy: Bahria Town)
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Updated 23 October 2023
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One of Pakistan’s largest land developers barred from advertising, selling property in southern Pakistan

  • A case has been registered against Bahria Town Karachi owners, Malik Riaz and his son, for the dishonoring of three cheques, each worth Rs64.1 million
  • In May 2018, a Supreme Court bench had also stopped the real estate developer from selling or allotting property over discrepancies in its acquisition of lands

KARACHI: Authorities in the southern Pakistani province of Sindh have barred one of the country’s largest real estate developers, Bahria Town Karachi, from advertising or selling any property and registered a case against its owners for failing to clear dues, it emerged Monday.

The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), a provincial body that oversees land-related matters in Sindh, said the owners of Bahria Town Karachi had failed to pay scrutiny fees to the regulator. The SBCA didn’t specify the amount owed by the developer.

It said it had issued a show-cause notice to the real estate developer, for the dishonoring of its cheques, but the firm did not respond to the notice.

“You have failed to clear your dues due to dishonoring [of] your cheques, detail of which had been communicated to you... even you failed to respond [to] the show-cause notice,” the SBCA said in its letter addressed to Bahria Town Karachi.

“As per orders of competent authority, SBCA, the provisional NoC (no-objection certificate) for sale and advertisement of the project “Bahria Town Karachi” of M/s Bahria Town (Private) Limited (DL-3069) has been canceled/withdrawn with immediate effect on account of non-payment of scrutiny fees.”

Separately, a case was registered against Bahria Town Karachi owners, Malik Riaz and Ali Riaz Malik, for the dishonoring of their three cheques, each amounting to Rs64, 168, 762.

This is not the first time that Bahria Town has faced regulatory action with regard to its mega real estate project in Pakistan’s commercial hub of Karachi.

In May 2018, a three-judge Supreme Court bench had stopped the real-estate developer from selling or allotting plots and residential units over discrepancies in its acquisition of lands for Bahria Town Karachi from the Sindh government.

The court later accepted Bahria Town’s Rs460 billion offer for the lands it acquired in the Malir district of Karachi and restrained the country’s anti-corruption watchdog from filing references against the developer.


Pakistani national in Dubai killed by falling debris from ‘aerial interception’

Updated 08 March 2026
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Pakistani national in Dubai killed by falling debris from ‘aerial interception’

  • Pakistani driver killed on Saturday as debris falls on vehicle in Al Barsha area, confirms Government of Dubai Media Office
  • Iran has targeted Gulf countries hosting US troops with missile, drone attacks since Middle East conflict began last week 

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani national was killed this week after debris from an aerial interception fell on a vehicle in Dubai, the Government of Dubai Media Office confirmed on Sunday.

The incident took place in Dubai’s Al Barsha area, the Dubai Media Office wrote on social media platform X, without confirming the location from where the projectile was fired from. 

“Authorities confirm that debris from an aerial interception fell onto a vehicle in the Al Barsha area, resulting in the death of a Pakistani driver,” the Dubai Media Office said. 

This is the second Pakistani national killed in the UAE since the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran on Feb. 28. As per local media reports, a Pakistani national died in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 28 after being struck by missile fragments. 

Pakistani and Nepalese nationals were among six people injured by falling debris on Thursday after the UAE’s air defense systems intercepted drones, the Abu Dhabi Media Office had confirmed in a statement. 

Iran has carried out several missile and drone attacks on Gulf countries hosting American troops since Isreal and the US launched coordinated strikes against it last week. The surprise attack came after months of negotiations between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program. 

Pakistan has asked its citizens in Gulf states to exercise caution, avoid travel and strictly follow official adviseries ever since tensions escalated in the region last week.

The UAE is home to over 1.5 million Pakistani expatriates, one of the largest communities of overseas Pakistanis worldwide.

Pakistan has condemned the US and Israel’s attacks on Iran but also criticized Tehran’s attacks that have targeted countries in the Gulf region, advising all parties to exercise restraint. 

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday apologized to Gulf neighbors for the attacks, saying Tehran would halt strikes unless attacks against Iran originate from their territories. 

However, questions were raised over the apology as air defense sirens and interceptions were reported in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE and Bahrain later on Saturday, fueling uncertainty across the Gulf.