Karachi Authorities Evacuate 44 Dilapidated Buildings Following Deadly Lyari Collapse

KARACHI – In the wake of a tragic building collapse in Karachi’s Lyari area earlier this month that claimed 27 lives, city authorities have taken decisive action by evacuating at least 44 dangerously dilapidated buildings to prevent further loss of life.

A high-level meeting chaired by Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi was held to assess the situation and devise a comprehensive strategy for identifying, evacuating, and demolishing unsafe structures across the city.

According to the briefing, 41 buildings in Karachi’s South district — including 10 heritage structures — have been vacated and sealed. Deputy Commissioner South, Javed Nabi Khoso, informed the meeting that many of these buildings are over a century old and in extremely poor condition.

In addition, three more buildings were evacuated in the East district, as confirmed by Deputy Commissioner East Abrar Jaffar during the meeting.

It was decided that no building would be demolished without prior approval from either the Karachi Commissioner or the Director General of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA). The meeting also emphasized the need for consultation with technical and advisory committees before taking action against heritage buildings, to ensure the preservation of Karachi’s architectural legacy.

The Commissioner assigned four officers the immediate task of conducting surveys, while the Deputy Commissioner South was granted additional powers to ensure quick response and effective management.

The meeting was attended by SBCA DG Shahmeer Bhutto, deputy commissioners of South, East, Central, and West districts, senior officials, and representatives of relevant agencies.

This citywide campaign against crumbling buildings was launched following the collapse of a five-story residential structure in Lyari’s Baghdadi area earlier this month — a tragedy that underscored the urgent need for infrastructure reform in Pakistan’s largest metropolis.