Sindh Government Decides to Demolish 51 Dangerous Buildings in Karachi After Lyari Tragedy, SBCDA Chief Suspended

Karachi: The Sindh government has decided to demolish 51 of the 586 dangerous buildings identified in Karachi, following the tragic collapse of a building in Lyari that claimed 27 lives. The Chief of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCDA) has been suspended, and an inquiry has been launched to hold accountable the officials responsible for the tragedy. The government also announced compensation of 1 million rupees for each deceased.
In a press conference, Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani, and Interior Minister Ziaul Anwar shared the government’s response to the tragic incident and outlined their course of action.
Sharjeel Memon expressed his grief over the incident, saying, “We are all deeply saddened by the loss of 27 innocent lives in Lyari. An important meeting was held today at the Chief Minister’s House, where the Chief Minister of Sindh took strict notice of the situation and directed that stern action be taken against those responsible for the negligence.”
He further revealed that the SBCDA staff had already been suspended by the Local Government Minister, and now, the Director-General of SBCDA had been removed from his position. Memon added that a new committee would be formed under the Commissioner to oversee the situation and check the safety of other buildings in the city.
The Information Minister clarified that the building in question had been constructed by private individuals and was located in an informal settlement. He also mentioned that there are 744 buildings in Sindh requiring minor repairs, and that the government had previously made arrangements for the rehabilitation of flood and COVID-19 victims.
Minister Saeed Ghani stated that all officers who were deployed in the area since 2022 would be made part of the inquiry. “We will also be filing a case against any officer found to be negligent. If it is found that the DG of SBCDA was at fault, his name will be included in the FIR,” he said.
Ghani also confirmed that a decision had been made to demolish 51 buildings in Karachi, and the commissioner would be tasked with surveying the remaining 535 buildings to ensure their safety. He further stressed the importance of rehabilitating residents living in dangerous structures.
Ghani highlighted that the government would take tough legal action against illegal constructions. “We are working on a new law to stop illegal buildings and hold accountable those responsible for such constructions,” he said. He also pointed out that the current law governing SBCDA would be amended in two weeks to ensure better management of building safety issues in the future.
Saeed Ghani emphasized that the authorities must determine who is residing in these dangerous buildings, including owners, tenants, and occupants under the “pension” system, and plan for their rehabilitation.
Interior Minister Ziaul Anwar confirmed that the government was taking the issue seriously and promised swift action. “We are investigating which officials were involved, and strict action will be taken against anyone found guilty. The loss of precious lives cannot be ignored, and those responsible for the criminal negligence will be arrested soon,” he concluded.