Sindh govt to demolish 51 dilapidated buildings in Karachi after report: Saeed Ghani

KARACHI: Sindh Minister for Local Government Saeed Ghani on Monday said that 51 buildings in Karachi have been classified as highly dangerous and a special committee has been tasked to submit a report on these structures.

The announcement came after the tragic incident in Karachi’s Lyari, where at least 27 lives were lost in a dilapidated five-storey building collapse last week.

Addressing a press conference today along with Interior Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar and Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, Saeed Ghani said that the committee investigating the collapse of a building in Lyari will now also “examine the condition of 51 dilapidated buildings” in the city.

He said that the Karachi Commissioner has been directed to submit a detailed report within 24 hours so that demolition work can begin without delay.

He further added that 588 buildings have been declared unsafe in total, with 107 such buildings in Lyari alone.

Ghani also announced that several officials, including the director general of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), have been suspended by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.

“Today, the chief minister has also suspended the DG SCBA and has ordered the home minister to immediately register an FIR (first information report) on the incident and that strictest action be taken against all those involved,” Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said.

Speaking to the reporters, the local government minister said that the government has approved Rs 1 million in financial aid for each affected family. He acknowledged that the victims belonged to extremely poor backgrounds.

The minister also urged citizens to verify approvals and the legal status of any residential project before purchasing flats or plots, emphasizing the importance of due diligence in property transactions.