The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has declared 740 buildings across the province—588 of them in Karachi—as structurally unsafe, warning residents of potential collapse during the upcoming monsoon season. These buildings, many of which date back over a century, have been classified as uninhabitable due to severe structural decay.
Fresh evacuation notices have been served, yet many occupants remain defiant, citing the central location of these buildings and the lack of affordable housing alternatives. A significant number of the affected families are descendants of 1947 migrants who have lived in these aging structures for generations.
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To prepare for possible emergencies, the SBCA has activated 24/7 Rain Emergency Centres at its main Karachi office and regional branches in Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, and Mirpurkhas. These centres will be manned round-the-clock by technical staff working in shifts under the direct supervision of SBCA Director General Muhammad Ishaq Khuhro.
The authority has also launched a public awareness campaign, warning that rainwater infiltration can severely weaken already damaged structures and may lead to fires due to electrical faults. DG Khuhro made a final appeal to residents to vacate immediately, stressing that continued occupancy poses a direct threat to life and property.
