A tragic building collapse in Lyari’s Baghdadi area has thrown a harsh spotlight on the Sindh Building Control Authority’s (SBCA) repeated warnings being ignored, as documents reveal the building had been declared dangerous and uninhabitable since 2022.
The ill-fated structure, located on Plot No. 29, LY 14, Old Fida Hussain Sheikha Road, had received three official notices from SBCA, urging immediate evacuation.
The building was marked as "defaced, irreparable, and unfit for habitation", yet remained occupied until it crumbled, endangering lives.
According to documents aired by City 21 News, the SBCA had not only issued notices to the building owner but had also forwarded alerts to the Deputy Commissioner and the local SHO. Despite these clear warnings, no concrete action was taken to evacuate the residents or secure the area.
The tragedy underscores a broader crisis in Karachi’s urban infrastructure. A list obtained by 24 News confirms that 107 more buildings in Lyari alone have been officially declared dangerous, with several still occupied. Residents in these dilapidated structures remain at grave risk, especially as monsoon rains intensify the danger of further collapses, officials warned.
City-wide, over 570 buildings have been categorized as dilapidated by the SBCA, yet little action beyond routine notices appears to be taken. Critics argue the authority is content with paperwork, while vulnerable families continue to live under crumbling roofs.
As rescue operations continue in Lyari and officials assess the damage, the tragedy has reignited calls for urgent, proactive measures from the government to prevent more lives from being lost to avoidable structural disasters.