590 buildings in city declared ‘dangerous’ after Lyari incident

In the wake of the recent collapse of a residential building in Lyari, the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has declared 590 buildings across Karachi “dangerous”, prompting serious concern over public safety and the condition of ageing infrastructure in the city.

The alarming revelation was part of a 20-page report prepared by the SBCA and submitted to Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani and Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah.

The report provides a detailed district-wise breakdown of buildings that are structurally unsound, and includes a status update on the properties that have already been evacuated.

District South of the city tops the list with a staggering 460 “dangerous” buildings, followed by 67 in District Central: 54 in Liaquatabad, seven in North Nazimabad, four in Gulberg and two in New Karachi. District Keamari has 24 “unsafe” buildings, District Korangi 18, District East 14, District Malir five and District West two.

In Lyari, where the recent collapse occurred, 107 buildings have been marked as “dangerous”, 42 in Ranchore Line, 36 in Saddar Town, 28 in Napier Quarters, 16 in Ghulam Hussain Kissan Quarters, 14 in Market Quarters and seven in Bunder Road Quarters.

Other vulnerable localities include Arambagh (38), Sarai Quarters (23), Lawrence Quarters (15), Clifton (11), Preedy Quarters (five), Bath Island (one), and even a few structures in Railway Quarters and Artillery Maidan.

Out of the 61 structures deemed “extremely hazardous”, 59 have been successfully evacuated. The SBCA confirmed that two more buildings would be evacuated within a week.

To support the displaced families, the provincial government has decided to provide monthly rent of Rs30,000 per household as compensation. So far 412 families have been identified for assistance, and the relevant lists have been prepared.

Karachi, a city with centuries-old settlements and decades of unregulated urban sprawl, has long faced issues of ageing and illegally constructed buildings. Many residential quarters dating back to the British colonial era, such as Preedy, Ranchore Line and Napier Quarters, still house thousands in dilapidated structures never meant for long-term habitation.

The problem worsened over the past few decades due to weak enforcement of building codes by authorities like the SBCA, illegal constructions (often in connivance with corrupt officials), and encroachments and poor maintenance of heritage and public housing units.

The recent building collapse, which claimed dozens of lives and raised fresh questions about government oversight, appears to have acted as a trigger for this massive city-wide inspection.

The SBCA has advised immediate evacuation of high-risk buildings, and requested collaboration from district administrations and law enforcement agencies to ensure compliance. A broader urban renewal or rehabilitation strategy, however, remains absent, leaving thousands vulnerable to future disasters.

Residents and civil society groups have repeatedly urged for a transparent review of Karachi’s building safety, implementation of strict regulatory frameworks and development of alternative housing options for those living in high-risk zones. With more monsoon rains looming and Karachi’s infrastructure under strain, the city faces a race against time to prevent further tragedies.