288 buildings in city declared unsafe

Karachi
The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) on Monday declared 288 buildings across the metropolis unsafe for living.
As per a statement issued, a list of potentially dangerous structures had been compiled by the Technical Committee for Dangerous Buildings on the directives of SBCA's acting DG Mumtaz Haider. The committee comprised senior architects and engineers who made their decision after a survey of all potentially dangerous structures.
The statement said the department has told residents and shopkeepers living or working in the dilapidated buildings to vacate as soon as possible in light of the high risk of collapse during the ongoing monsoon season.
The SBCA has also set up an emergency response centre where citizens can get assistance round-the-clock at 021-99232354.
The SBCA has announced several crackdowns in the past too, but it has failed to take effective action.
Hundreds of families continue to live in scores of unsafe buildings across the city, especially in Saddar and Burns Road areas, yet the authorities are content with looking the other way.