Sindh govt outlines steps to deal with challenge of dilapidated buildings

KARACHI: A high-level meeting on dangerous and dilapidated buildings was held at the Commissioner Office under the chairmanship of Sindh Minister for Local Government, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, with the participation of the Additional Chief Secretary Sindh, Commissioner Karachi, Director General Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), Chairman ABAD and other senior officials of relevant departments.

Overall situation of hazardous structures across the city, risks to citizens and a comprehensive strategy for their mitigation were reviewed in detail, addressing the meeting, Nasir stated that the protection of life and property of citizens is the top priority of the Sindh government and that no negligence in this regard will be tolerated, he directed that 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 further said that new laws are being introduced regarding dilapidated buildings with transparency as a key component while ensuring that public interest remains paramount, he also instructed the authorities to expedite the process of digitization of building records to improve accessibility of information and enable timely identification of illegal constructions.

Nasir emphasized that unsafe buildings pose a serious threat not only to occupants but also to people in surrounding areas, making immediate and effective action inevitable. He urged owners and 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 to 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, according to sources. The meeting also reviewed lists of dangerous buildings in various areas and assigned timelines to relevant departments to accelerate action.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026