On July 6, 2025, the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) declared a multi-storey building in Karachi’s Lyari Agra Taj area unsafe, ordering immediate evacuation due to visible cracks, days after a deadly collapse killed 27 in the same neighbourhood.
Following reports of structural cracks, the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and District South administration inspected a 10-unit residential building in the Agra Taj area of Lyari, declaring it unfit for habitation. This decision comes in the wake of a tragic collapse on July 4 in the Baghdadi area of Lyari, which claimed the lives of 27 people and highlighted ongoing systemic issues. Residents resisted evacuation, citing a lack of prior warnings and demanding alternative housing options. To enforce compliance, authorities demolished the building’s water tank.
Read: Lyari Building Collapse Claims 26 Lives, Rescue Efforts Continue in Karachi
The SBCA has identified 578 unsafe buildings in Karachi, with 456 located in District South. This includes 107 buildings in the Lyari and Old City areas. Despite issuing evacuation notices in 2023 and again on June 25, 2025, for the Agra Taj building, enforcement measures were lacking, a circumstance similar to that surrounding the recent collapse of another structure.
A case has been filed against the builder and contractor at the Kalri Police Station, and promises of compensation have been made. The deputy commissioner of District South has offered temporary relocation to nearby schools for residents.
