KARACHI: In a proactive move to ensure public safety ahead of the upcoming monsoon season, the Karachi administration, under the chairmanship of Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi, has decided to immediately evacuate all dilapidated and dangerous buildings across the city. This crucial decision was finalized during a high-level meeting attended by senior officials from the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), the Culture Department, and various district administrations. According to an SBCA survey briefing, a total of 584 buildings in Karachi have been declared structurally compromised, with 59 classified as highly critical, including 29 historically significant heritage sites. The data reveals that the vast majority of these vulnerable structures are heavily concentrated in District South, which houses 442 dangerous buildings, followed by 73 in District Central, 28 in Keamari, 18 in Korangi, 16 in District East, 5 in Malir, and 2 in District West.
To mitigate risks before the heavy rainfall begins, the administration has outlined a strict, multi-phased enforcement plan. The SBCA will immediately publish the list of hazardous buildings across various media platforms for public awareness and issue formal evacuation notices to the occupants. In cases of non-compliance, the district administration, in coordination with utility companies, will proceed to disconnect water, electricity, and gas supplies to force evacuation. Furthermore, these high-risk structures will be demolished based on the severity of their condition, while the administration has committed to taking priority measures for the temporary accommodation and rehabilitation of the displaced residents.
