Dangerous Buildings in Karachi to Be Evacuated and Demolished, Says Government

KARACHI: The Sindh government has decided to take priority measures for the evacuation and demolition of structurally dangerous buildings in Karachi, along with rehabilitation arrangements for residents displaced by the process, officials said on Thursday.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Provincial Minister for Local Government Syed Nasir Hussain Shah at the Karachi Commissioner’s Office. The meeting focused on accelerating action against unsafe structures that pose serious risks to residents, particularly in densely populated areas of the city.

According to officials, the meeting agreed on expediting the evacuation of buildings declared hazardous, demolishing those already vacated, and ensuring timely rehabilitation of affected families. The Karachi commissioner briefed the minister that assistant commissioners had completed a general survey of 471 out of 588 buildings identified as highly dangerous across the city.

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Participants were informed that 59 buildings had already been evacuated, displacing a significant number of residents. The meeting decided that rehabilitation of these affected families would be treated as a priority. It was agreed that flats would be constructed to provide permanent housing to those displaced due to evacuation and demolition.

Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah stressed that the issue of unsafe buildings was not limited to Karachi alone. He directed officials to conduct similar surveys in other major cities of Sindh, including Hyderabad and Sukkur, to identify hazardous structures and prevent potential loss of life.

Meanwhile, concerns were raised following the disconnection of electricity to City View Apartments in the Saddar area and another dilapidated building earlier this week. The Cantonment Board had ordered the disconnection after declaring the buildings uninhabitable due to their poor structural condition.

However, the situation took a different turn when senior Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Dr Farooq Sattar visited the area and met with residents. He contacted the additional chief executive officer of the Cantonment Board, Yamna Afzal, and submitted a written guarantee on behalf of the residents, after which electricity supply to the building was restored.

Addressing residents, Dr Farooq Sattar said that what he described as injustice against nearly 200 flat owners must be addressed. He alleged collusion between certain parties and builders and assured residents of his support in efforts to repair the building.

Officials maintain that while humanitarian considerations are important, public safety remains the government’s top priority. Authorities have reiterated that evacuation and demolition of dangerous buildings will continue as per law, alongside efforts to provide alternative housing solutions to affected families, in order to prevent tragedies linked to building collapses in the city.