A high-level meeting on dangerous and dilapidated buildings was held on Monday at the Commissioner Office under the chairmanship of Sindh Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah with the participation of the Sindh additional chief secretary, Karachi commissioner, Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) director general, Association of Builders & Developers (ABAD) chairman and other senior officials of relevant departments where the overall situation of hazardous structures across the city, risks to citizens, and a comprehensive strategy for their mitigation were reviewed.
Addressing the meeting, Shah stated that the protection of life and property of citizens was a top priority of the Sindh government and no negligence in this regard would be tolerated. He said the identification of unsafe buildings, safe evacuation of residents and subsequent demolition process must be carried out in a coordinated and transparent manner to prevent any untoward incidents.
The provincial minister said new laws were being introduced regarding dilapidated buildings with transparency as a key component while ensuring that public interest remained paramount.
He also instructed the authorities to expedite the process of digitisation of building record to improve accessibility of information and enable timely identification of illegal constructions. Shah emphasised that unsafe buildings posed a serious threat not only to occupants but also to people in surrounding areas, making immediate and effective action inevitable.
He asked the stakeholders of such buildings to cooperate fully with the government assuring that their legitimate interests would be protected. The meeting also agreed on taking special measures to address the concerns of affected residents and review options for providing alternative accommodation or necessary facilities.
The minister directed that all processes from demolition of hazardous structures to their reconstruction must strictly adhere to laws, merit and transparency to restore public confidence.
The meeting also reviewed lists of dangerous buildings in various areas and assigned timelines to relevant departments to accelerate action. Experts warned that recent rains and the deteriorating condition of buildings had increased the risk of major incidents, making immediate government intervention crucial. The meeting concluded with a resolve to find a sustainable and effective solution to the issue of dilapidated buildings in Karachi through coordinated efforts of all concerned institutions.
