All dilapidated buildings to be evacuated

The city administration has decided to evacuate city's dilapidated buildings. Deputy commissioners will take priority measures in this regard. The decision was made in a meeting with Commissioner Karachi Syed Hasan Naqvi in the chair.

Assistant Commissioner Junaid Alam from South, officials of Evacuee Property Trust Board, Director Property Tax Excise and Taxation Municipal Corporation, Karachi Municipality, and officers from KDA Land Department were present in the meeting while all deputy commissioners attended the meeting via video link and gave briefing.

In the meeting reviewed the condition of dilapidated buildings of the Evacuee Property Trust Board. Assistant Commissioner South Junaid Alam informed the meeting about the appraisal of the dilapidated buildings of Evacuee Property Trust Board in his district. It was decided that all the DCs will inspect the dilapidated buildings in their respective districts and will submit their list and report in one week.

The commissioner stated that DCs should collaborate with the Sindh Building Control Authority to take immediate measures to protect human lives.

The commissioner instructed local municipalities to assess their historical buildings and ancient markets and take necessary actions.

A survey conducted by the SBCA Technical Committee on Dangerous Buildings last year stated that about 550 buildings in Karachi were in dilapidated conditions. SBCA has issued notices to the residents of all such buildings to vacate these structures immediately as these buildings can collapse at any time during rains.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30^th, 2024.