Sindh govt vacates 9 unsafe Lyari buildings, 6 SBCA officials held

Nine unsafe buildings in Lyari have been vacated by the Sindh government, senior minister Shajeel Memon announced on Thursday. This action comes after a multi-storey residential building collapsed last week in Lyari, an area where many working-class families live in old and weak apartment blocks.

Authorities have already started demolishing one of the dangerous buildings. Memon said that the government will also provide three months’ rent to the affected families.

He added that the new Director General of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has ordered all officers to submit details of their assets within 15 days. Strict action will be taken against officials involved in approving illegal constructions.

To address the safety concerns, a special committee has been formed to assess old and damaged buildings in Lyari. The committee, led by Municipal Commissioner Hammad N D Khan and Assistant Commissioner Shehryar Habib, will survey dangerous structures and prepare a list of affected residents.

Following the tragic building collapse in Lyari that claimed 27 lives, Karachi police have arrested six SBCA officers, including senior directors and assistant directors. A case has also been registered against them.

The FIR, filed at Baghdadi Police Station, states that the collapsed building had been in poor condition since 2022, but SBCA officers failed to take action. The building owners, who rented out flats despite the dangerous condition, have also been named in the case.

Police confirmed that charges include negligence, manslaughter, and misuse of authority. Most of the accused officers have been taken into custody, and investigations are underway.

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