Karachi: The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has initiated a large-scale campaign to demolish unsafe and dilapidated structures across Karachi, following directives from the provincial government aimed at improving public safety.
The operation is being overseen by SBCA Director General Muzamil Hussain Halepoto under the supervision of Sindh Minister for Local Government Nasir Hussain Shah. Demolition work has already commenced in Lyari’s Noabad and Agra Taj areas, where authorities are carefully dismantling hazardous buildings to prevent potential accidents.
According to SBCA officials, a recent survey identified 540 buildings in Karachi as structurally unsafe, with 59 classified as “extremely hazardous.” All affected buildings have been vacated prior to demolition, and the process is being conducted in phases with assistance from the district administration.
DG Halepoto emphasized that the primary objective of the drive is to protect citizens from potential harm due to collapsing structures. He also stated that the authority is enforcing a zero-tolerance policy against illegal and unauthorized constructions while targeting unsafe buildings.
Earlier this month, SBCA conducted a province-wide survey to identify dangerous and illegally constructed buildings across Sindh. In July, a committee reported that 300 families had been evacuated from 56 extremely hazardous buildings in Karachi, with affected families receiving Rs30,000 per month in rental support for three months.
Former local government minister Saeed Ghani noted that a fresh survey of all 740 buildings previously declared dangerous in Sindh — including 588 in Karachi — was underway in collaboration with private institutions. Of the 61 buildings classified as “extremely dangerous” in Karachi, 56 have been vacated, while five remain under judicial review.
The SBCA’s ongoing campaign is part of a broader effort to make Karachi’s urban landscape safer and more regulated.
Samra Zulfiqar, a real estate analyst at Zameen.com, is passionate about finding projects that offer buyers the best returns. Her keen insights spotlight the market’s most promising opportunities.
