Verify building approvals before buying flats, says CM Murad after Lyari tragedy

#Verify #building #approvals #buying #flats #Murad #Lyari #tragedy

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has called on the citizens to confirm whether a building has received all necessary approval before buying a flat.

A few days after the recent building collapsed in the Lyari area of ​​Karachi, at least 27 people were killed. On Sunday evening, the search and rescue operation ended after about three days.

Assistant Commissioner Shaheer Habib told reporters on Sunday, “The rescue operation lasted 60 hours and is now complete.”

“Twenty-six bodies, including nine women, 15 men, and a ten-year-old boy and a half-year-old girl, were recovered, while another person died on their wounds during treatment.”

Talking to media in Karachi on Sunday, the Chief Minister said that a committee has been constituted to investigate the incident. He added, “We will review these reports at tomorrow’s meeting.

He also revealed that the building was evacuated last night in Agra Taj, which was built a few years ago without the approval of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA).

He added that the government is examining the powers of transferring residents of more than 400 ‘dangerous’ buildings to the old city area.

The committee was formed

The Sindh government has constituted a high -level committee to investigate the incident, which was given the task of submitting a report by Monday.

The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) revealed that the collapse structure – which contained more than 40 people in 20 apartments – was 30 years old and was previously declared unsafe.

The authority has claimed that it issued formal notices of the evacuation two years ago, and the latest service was served on June 25, 2025. It was stated that it had also sent notices to K-Electric and Water Board to disconnect utility services-but neither contacts were cut off nor the building was evacuated.

The incident has also highlighted the current threat posed by the SBCA already unsafe and disqualified buildings. The number of such buildings is 578 in Karachi, out of which 456 are in the south only.

Other districts also face danger: Central (66), Kamari (23), Korangi (14), East (13), Malir (4), and West (2).

Another building declared unsafe

Although dust was not settled since the collapse of the residential building on Friday, another multi -country complex was declared “unsafe” in the same locality, forcing authorities to issue evacuation orders on Sunday.

In the Agra Taj, police and authorities initially faced resistance to residents, who refused to evacuate the “in any case”.

“Where were the institutions when the building was being built?” Residents questioned, demanding alternative housing before being asked to evacuate the building.

“We’re living in this building, and we don’t feel any danger,” said a residents of the building.

In response, the district administration assured that the affected people would be paid properly by the builder.

“We have offered to move the affected people to the school,” the District South Deputy Commissioner said that the residents urge the residents to evacuate the dilapidated building.

Saying that he had contacted the concerned builder, the officer assured that proper action would be taken against him and he would return the residents.

Authorities also demolished the water tank on the roof, in their bid to persuade residents to evacuate the structure.

According to police, a case has been registered against the builder at the collar police station on the complaint of SBCA Assistant Director.