Building collapses expose weak urban oversight in Lahore

The roof collapse of a residential building in Kahna has brought Lahore’s long-standing issues of illegal construction, weak enforcement and ineffective building oversight back into focus, raising fresh questions about the role and responsibility of government authorities.

Following the incident, authorities claimed that the affected building did not have an approved map and was constructed in violation of building regulations. However, urban planning experts questioned why the relevant departments failed to take timely action if the construction was illegal.

According to Rescue 1122 data, 254 incidents of building collapses were reported in Lahore between July 2023 and July 13, 2026, including 201 residential buildings. These accidents resulted in 586 injuries and 93 deaths, highlighting concerns over the effectiveness of the city’s construction monitoring system.

The approval system for construction in Lahore is divided among several institutions. The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) approves building plans within its jurisdiction, cantonment boards manage their respective areas, while the Metropolitan Corporation handles approvals in other urban areas. Experts say an approved building plan is a legal requirement before construction, while additional no-objection certificates (NOCs) are required in certain locations.

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Urban planning expert Ghafer Shahzad said government institutions are responsible not only for approving building plans but also for monitoring construction at every stage. “The law allows field staff to inspect sites, issue notices, stop illegal construction, impose fines and demolish unauthorised structures. If a building remains illegally constructed for months or years and action is taken only after an accident, it indicates a failure of the monitoring system,” noted Shahzad.

Construction engineer Hafiz Ahmed noted that building construction takes several months, and if violations remain unnoticed throughout the process, authorities must also review the performance of officials responsible for supervision rather than only declaring the structure illegal after a collapse.

Experts point out that thousands of houses in Lahore’s older localities, including Kahna, Shahdara, Mozang, Ichhra, Baghbanpura, Sabzazar and Daroghawala, were built before current building regulations came into effect. Many of these buildings do not have approved plans, while several have added extra floors over time without formal permission.

Shahzad added that it is not practically possible to declare all such buildings illegal. He stressed the need for a phased survey, a regularisation policy and an independent building control authority. According to him, a digital record of every building, regular inspections and timely identification of dangerous structures are essential solutions for a modern city.

Experts also note that the Walled City of Lahore Authority has completed a detailed digital survey and documentation of historic buildings in the inner city. However, no similar integrated record exists for the rest of Lahore, which has a population of around 15 million. They argue that GIS mapping, online approval systems, digital registration and effective field inspections can help identify both illegal and unsafe buildings before disasters occur.

The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Lahore said action against illegal and dangerous buildings is ongoing across the city, and several structures violating approved plans have already been partially or completely demolished. "Strict enforcement of building regulations will continue to protect citizens’ lives and property," affirmed the DC.

Experts believe the long-term solution lies not only in fixing responsibility after accidents but in reforming the entire construction system through transparent approvals, effective monitoring, digital surveys, regularisation of old settlements and consistent enforcement of building laws.