Dangerous buildings

KARACHI: Karachi's old buildings have become a deadly threat to residents and nearby families. The SBCA has declared 588 buildings in the city dangerous, yet only 59 have been vacated and demolition has been approved for just 39, due to official neglect and delay. The danger is not theoretical. A building collapse in Lyari in July 2025 killed at least 27 people. Lyari alone has nearly 100 of the dangerous buildings, which means many more families there live under the same risk every single day. These families do not stay by choice. They have nowhere else to go, so they continue living inside cracked walls and weak roofs. Rental support and alternative housing are still being worked out by the provincial government. During the rainy season, water seeps into old structures and weakens them further, making a sudden collapse even more likely. The Sindh CM and the SBCA must publish the full list of dangerous buildings immediately and empty the most unsafe ones without delay. Since 444 of the 588 are heritage buildings needing a heritage committee NOC before demolition, these approvals must be fasttracked. Families who leave should be given rent support or alternative housing, and officials who ignore warnings must be held responsible. The Mayor of Karachi should also ensure regular safety inspections and clear warning notices before, God forbid, another collapse takes more lives. Muhammad Asad Karachi