Building on MA Jinnah Road begins to sink, lives at risk

The Karachi Development Authority (KDA) has once again raised alarm over a dangerously dilapidated multi-storey building located on the central MA Jinnah Road, warning that it has begun to sink and could collapse at any moment, posing a serious threat to human lives.

The building, situated on Plot No MC-4 and MC-7 in Sector 1 of the Lines Area Project, was constructed in 1986-87. Over the years, rainwater has accumulated in its basement like a stagnant pool, severely compromising the structural integrity of the entire building.

Despite never being fully occupied, the building has been periodically painted and advertised for residential sale. According to KDA officials, flats have been marketed to unsuspecting citizens even though the structure has long been unfit for habitation.On July 25, 2024, KDA Lines Area Project authorities had formally written to the Director General of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), warning that the building was not safe for occupancy and requesting its immediate demolition. The letter also urged authorities to consider declaring the structure a "heritage building" in order to ensure proper preservation or removal in a responsible manner.

Sources say that SBCA only issued routine responses to the letter, and no practical action has been taken so far. Now, with the building reportedly beginning to sink into the ground, the threat has grown significantly.

On July 24, 2025, the KDA Lines Area Project's Deputy Director (C\&S) issued a new letter to the SBCA Secretary for Dangerous Buildings, reiterating the urgency of declaring the structure officially hazardous and demolishing it immediately.

KDA officials have warned that any further delay could result in a major tragedy and loss of life if the building collapses.

Following the tragic building collapse in Lyarri that claimed 27 lives, SBCA has intensified its drive to vacate and seal dangerously dilapidated buildings across the city. A committee of expert structural engineers has been conducting ongoing surveys to identify and assess high-risk structures.

According to the committee's reports on District South, a total of 59 buildings have been declared extremely dangerous — including 10 heritage buildings. These structures are located in densely populated old city areas such as Arambagh, Lawrence Quarters, Napier Quarters, Saddar Bazaar, Telu Ram Quarters, and Old Town.

In the first phase of the operation, 41 of these buildings have already been vacated and sealed in order to protect human lives. The process of evacuating residents from the remaining buildings is ongoing, with assistance from local authorities. In the next phase, steps will be taken to initiate demolition procedures for these unsafe structures.

The SBCA has urged citizens to report any buildings — internally or externally damaged, structurally weak, or visibly deteriorating — particularly in older, congested neighborhoods. Citizens can report such buildings at any time via the SBCA online portal.