Lyari building collapse; How many buildings are declared unsafe in Karachi?

The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has reported that 578 buildings in Karachi are unsafe and dangerous to live in. The announcement came after an internal survey. The report shows that most of these buildings are located in District South, especially in Lyari and the Old City Area.

District-Wise Breakdown of Dangerous Buildings

• District South: 456 buildings

• District Central: 66

• District Keamari: 23

• District Korangi: 14

• District East: 13

• District Malir: 4

• District West: 2

These areas are densely populated and many buildings are old and poorly maintained.

On Friday morning, a five-storey building in Lyari’s Baghdadi area collapsed. Over 40 people were living in that building. It was constructed in 1975 and had already been declared dangerous. The SBCA said it issued an evacuation notice two years ago. It also sent warnings to K-Electric and the Water Board on June 25, 2025, asking them to disconnect services. But no action was taken to evacuate the residents.

The SBCA has placed banners and sent notices to the residents of all 578 buildings. But no serious efforts have been made to move people out. Experts and locals say this is not enough. They warn that such weak buildings can collapse at any time, especially during the rainy season.

Structural engineers and city planners say the government must act now. They suggest the following steps:

• Immediate evacuation of families from risky buildings

• Temporary housing for displaced residents

• Sealing of buildings marked unsafe

• Enforcement of building codes for all future construction

They also stressed that this issue cannot be solved by notices alone.

People living in these buildings are worried. Many say they have nowhere else to go. Without proper help from the government, families are forced to stay in unsafe homes.