Urban safety

Karachi's skyline is changing once again - not through new development, but through the demolition of ageing and unsafe apartment complexes. The Sindh Building Control Authority has intensified its operation to pull down structures declared dangerous in areas such as Lyari, Naya Abad, Agra Taj Colony and Gulistan-e-Jauhar. Following a series of tragic collapses, including one in Lyari's Baghdadi area that claimed 27 lives, the effort is understandable. Yet, the way it is being carried out raises serious concerns about planning and coordination.

These buildings have housed families for decades, now being torn down within days. The SBCA says the demolitions are being conducted with "extreme caution", but that caution seems limited to structural safety, not human consequence. Where will the displaced go? Has the government drawn up an alternative housing plan or set up a grievance redress system for those affected? So far, there are no clear answers. Residents have reportedly being asked to vacate on short notice, often with little to no support. In a city already grappling with overcrowding and soaring rents, such unplanned evacuations can easily create an urban crisis. Demolishing unsafe buildings is indeed a public safety necessity, but it must be done within a framework that protects people as much as property. There is also a need for transparency in identifying which structures are truly hazardous. Karachi's older neighbourhoods, especially in the city's south and central districts, are filled with ageing apartment blocks occupied by low-income families. Without a clear, publicly accessible process for verification and relocation, the demolition drive risks deepening mistrust between citizens and the authorities.

The government's priority must go beyond pulling buildings down and must include relocation and compensation. Safety and humanity must go hand in hand. If Karachi is to rebuild, it must do so with its people at the centre of that vision.