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Following the tragic collapse of a residential building in Lyari’s Baghdadi area that claimed 27 lives, the Sindh government has suspended the Director General (DG) of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and formed a committee to investigate the cause behind the collapse.
Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon and Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani held a joint press conference announcing a series of measures to address unsafe structures in Karachi.
A high-level inquiry committee, chaired by Commissioner Karachi, has been formed to probe the Lyari incident, said Memon, adding that the committee will submit its report within two days, and any officers found guilty of negligence will face strict disciplinary and legal action.
All officers posted in the affected area since 2022 will be part of the inquiry.
“If negligence is proven on the part of the current DG SBCA, his name will be included in the FIR,” Saeed Ghani confirmed.
Minister Ghani stated that Commissioner Karachi has been assigned the urgent task of demolishing 51 identified unsafe buildings and investigating all 588 unsafe structures across the city.
READ: Rescue operation at Lyari building collapse site concluded
The goal is to determine which buildings are at highest risk and initiate immediate demolition to prevent future tragedies, Ghani said.
“There are currently 586 unsafe buildings in Karachi,” Ghani added, “and urgent action is needed before another catastrophe occurs.”
Acknowledging the suffering of victims’ families, Saeed Ghani announced a financial compensation of Rs. 1 million per deceased individual. “The affected people were poor and now homeless – support is their right,” he said.
The Sindh government has given a two-week deadline for amendments to the SBCA Act, including proposals to bring stricter laws against illegal constructions and unauthorized occupancy.
Ghani revealed that the government is also considering handing over demolition responsibilities to either SBCA or a private authority under new legislation.
Saeed Ghani admitted that illegal constructions continue across Karachi, often overlooked due to SBCA’s “financial interests.” He criticized the authority for failing to act and confirmed that government scrutiny is now expanding to slums and informal settlements, where 740 buildings across Sindh need immediate attention.
Sharjeel Memon assured the public that relocation is not an issue. “We managed housing for flood and COVID-19 victims. We will manage again,” he said.
The Commissioner has been asked to verify whether occupants of unsafe buildings are owners, tenants, or encroachers under the landlord and turban (informal) system.
