The city of crumbling buildings

With hundreds of residential structures declared unsafe, residents demand repairs and rehabilitation instead of immedi

KARACHI:

The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has declared 589 buildings across Karachi unsafe, ordering their evacuation due to concerns over structural stability. The list includes residential buildings housing thousands of people, as well as busy commercial properties visited by shoppers every day. Among these, 117 buildings are protected cultural heritage sites, raising concerns over both public safety and the preservation of Karachi's historic architecture.

In the notices issued regarding the evacuation of these buildings, it has been stated that during this year's monsoon rains, these structures face a serious risk of damage. Therefore, residents have been instructed to immediately vacate them. The notices further state that if people do not leave these buildings and any loss of life or property occurs, the Sindh Building Control Authority will not be held responsible.

Of the buildings declared dangerous, 447 are located in Karachi's South District, while 16 are in East District, 37 in Central District, 18 in Korangi District, 28 in Keamari District, five in Malir District, and two in West District.

Among the dangerous buildings in South District, 97 are located in Lyari Quarters, while others include 35 in Saddar Old Town Quarters, seven on M.A. Jinnah Road, 11 in Wadhumal Odharam Quarters, 12 in Market Quarters, 16 in Ghulam Hussain Qasim Quarters, 32 in Napier Quarters, 37 in Ranchore Line Quarters, 16 in Preedy Quarters, 19 in Ramswamy Quarters, 16 in Lawrence Quarters, 10 in Thailaram Quarters, 21 in Sarai Quarters, 40 in Rambagh Quarters, 37 in Saddar Bazaar Quarters, 10 in Clifton, and 14 in Artillery Maidan.

Among the well-known buildings in South District that have been declared dangerous are PIDC Officers Flats in Bath Island, the ADC's bungalow located in Governor House Karachi, Humayun House near Mama Parsi School, Government College for Women, Abdullah Haroon College, Jabees Hotel, KMC Sweeper Quarters, Bambino Cinema, Rampa Plaza, Zainab Market Saddar, and Bolton Market, among others. A total of 56 buildings in Liaquatabad, six in Gulberg, and nine in North Nazimabad have also been declared dangerous.

Residents living in these buildings have questioned the decision, saying that many of the structures are in good condition and there is no possibility of them collapsing. A resident of Ramswami Quarters, Muhammad Ali, said that some buildings in his area have also been ordered to be vacated, although most of them are in good condition.

Saqlain Altaf, a resident of Bahar Colony in Lyari, said that some buildings in Lyari are genuinely in dangerous condition. However, he questioned whether merely issuing notices was enough to evacuate them. "Did the government consider where the residents of these buildings will go if they are forced to leave?" he asked.

Urban planning experts have also questioned the basis on which such a large number of buildings were declared dangerous. Farhan Anwar, a renowned urban planner and Associate Professor of Practice at Habib University, told The Express Tribune that it was important to know whether any study had been conducted before declaring these buildings unsafe. "If a study was carried out, who conducted it?" he questioned.

According to Zahid Farooq, Joint Director of the Urban Resource Centre, the Sindh Building Control Authority does not have enough expert staff to properly inspect such a large number of buildings. "Who would want to live with their family in a dangerous building? Even if some buildings are genuinely unsafe, the government should first arrange alternative accommodation before evacuating them," opined Farooq.

Renowned architect Yasmeen Lari said that not all buildings are so dangerous that they need to be evacuated or demolished. She pointed out that in developed countries, even buildings from the 15th century have been preserved through repairs and restoration. "Karachi's old areas contain buildings from the 19th century; why can't they also be repaired and preserved?" she asked.