KARACHI: The Sindh government has announced a decisive move to demolish highly dilapidated buildings across Karachi, declaring 588 structures as unsafe and hazardous to live in.
In a joint press conference, Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani, and Home Minister Zia Lanjar revealed the details of the action plan aimed at preventing further tragedies like the recent Lyari building collapse.
The ministers stated that the government has conducted extensive surveys and identified these 588 buildings as structurally compromised, posing serious threats to the lives of residents and the public.
They emphasized that demolition work will begin immediately in coordination with relevant authorities, and occupants will be relocated or evacuated on emergency basis where necessary. Strict action will also be taken against those responsible for neglecting safety regulations or allowing illegal occupancy.
The ministers reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring public safety and restoring urban planning standards, saying that no compromise will be made on the issue of human life and building safety in Karachi.
Saeed Ghani said that action would also be taken against those involved in illegal work, a committee headed by DC was constituted to identify illegal, dangerous buildings. The commissioner will submit a detailed report on dangerous buildings within two weeks.
The provincial minister said that the director, deputy director and inspection inspector was suspended on the first day. SBCA officers posted in Lyari from 2022 will be investigated. The committee was given 48 more hours for the report after the incident.
Saeed Ghani has stressed the importance of evacuating residents from dangerous buildings and announced that the government is working on tough legal reforms to curb illegal constructions.
Ghani stated that amendments to the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) law are being finalised, with a two-week timeline given for necessary legislative changes.
