Building control authority forms investigation body

An inquiry committee has been constituted to probe Tuesday’s Liaquatabad building collapse, with a 15-day deadline to submit a report highlighting the reasons behind the incident.

Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) chief Agha Maqsood Abbas formed the investigation body on the directives of Local Government Minister Jam Khan, and made its announcement while talking to the media at his office.

The initial SBCA findings stated that the building was constructed 25 years ago on plot No 10/315, and leakage from the sewerage and water lines as well as rainwater had weakened the foundations of the structure, resulting in its collapse.

The inquiry committee is headed by Pakistan Engineering Council Vice-Chairman Mukhtar Sheikh and three other members, who would submit their findings and recommendations to the SBCA chief.

According to the building control authority, there are 362 dangerous buildings across Karachi, but the SBCA could only inform their residents of the dangers and not force them to vacate the dilapidated structures.  

KWSB refutes allegations

The Karachi Water & Sewerage Board (KWSB) has refuted the SBCA chief’s allegations that hold the water utility responsible for the building collapse. The water board termed the accusations “baseless and unfounded.”

The KWSB spokesman said the building was already declared “dangerous”, but the warning was ignored by the SBCA official, adding that according to the locals, the upper portion of the structure was carved in Ramazan for a tandoor, which weakened the building.

“Bricks from the building had already started falling off, which led to the collapse on Tuesday. Moreover, there are no sewerage lines near or around the building.”