On July 7, 2025, the Sindh Government announced that a committee investigating the recent Lyari building collapse, which resulted in 27 deaths, will now assess 51 other severely dilapidated buildings in Karachi, with a report due within 24 hours.
Sindh Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani, speaking at a press conference alongside Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon and Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar, assigned a high-level committee to examine 51 dangerous buildings across Karachi. This committee was formed following the collapse in Lyari on July 4 and was previously tasked with investigating the incident on Fida Husain Shaikha Road. The committee is required to submit its findings by July 8 to address issues of negligence and prevent further tragedies.
The five-storey Lyari building, which was declared unsafe by the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) in 2022, collapsed on July 4, resulting in the deaths of 27 people, including nine women and two children. Despite receiving multiple evacuation notices since 2023, many residents chose to remain in the building, highlighting significant enforcement failures.
Read: Lyari Building Collapse Claims 26 Lives, Rescue Efforts Continue in Karachi
The SBCA has identified a total of 588 dangerous buildings throughout the city, with 107 located in Lyari alone, indicating a systemic issue, according to Dawn. Rescue efforts were challenging due to narrow lanes but ultimately concluded with 95% of the debris cleared.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has suspended the Director General of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and ordered the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) against negligent officials. Ghani has called for strict action in response to the situation. At the same time, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab urged residents to pay attention to evacuation notices, highlighting that there are 434 dangerous buildings in the Old City area.
