KARACHI: The Sindh government has evacuated nine unsafe structures in Lyari district, according to senior provincial minister Sharjeel Memon, who announced the move on Thursday. This action follows the recent collapse of a multi-storey residential building in the densely populated area, which resulted in 27 fatalities and affected many low-income families living in aging apartments.
Memon stated that authorities have begun demolishing one of the compromised buildings and assured affected residents that they will receive three months’ worth of rent assistance. He also revealed that the newly appointed Director General of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has instructed officials to submit their asset details within the next 15 days. The minister emphasized that strict disciplinary measures will be enforced against officials involved in approving illegal construction activities.
In response to safety concerns and recent incidents, a committee has been formed under Deputy Commissioner South Javed Nabi Khoso to evaluate the condition of buildings in Lyari. The committee, chaired by Municipal Commissioner Lyari Hammad N D Khan and Assistant Commissioner Shehryar Habib, will carry out a comprehensive survey of structurally compromised buildings and prepare a list of residents at risk. The team also includes DSP City, Mukhtiarkar Lyari, and the relevant Union Council chairman.
Meanwhile, the aftermath of the Lyari building collapse saw significant legal and administrative actions. Karachi police registered a case at Baghdadi Police Station, naming several SBCA officials involved in the incident, which resulted in 27 deaths. Sources confirmed that six SBCA officers, including four senior directors, one deputy director, and an assistant director, have been detained for questioning. The FIR was filed based on a complaint from a section officer of the Sindh Local Government and Housing Department.
The case alleges that the collapsed building, containing 20 flats, had been in a deteriorated state for a long time and was uninhabitable. Despite being aware of the building’s poor condition since 2022, SBCA officials allegedly failed to take action. The FIR accuses six directors, two deputy directors, and three inspectors who served between 2022 and 2025 of negligence, misconduct, and failing to document the building’s unsafe status properly. The current owners are also implicated in the case.
DIG South Asad Raza confirmed that the owners had rented out flats despite knowing the building’s structural issues. Charges include negligence, manslaughter, and abuse of authority. Most accused have been taken into custody, with investigations ongoing.
