KARACHI:
An aging multi-storey building on Karachi’s busy MA Jinnah Road has begun to sink into the ground, triggering fresh fears of collapse and sparking urgent warnings from the Karachi Development Authority (KDA). Officials now say the deteriorating structure poses an “immediate risk to human life.”
The building, located on Plot Nos. MC-4 and MC-7 in Sector 1 of the Lines Area Project, dates back to the late 1980s and has long been under scrutiny for structural weakness. Built in 1986-87, its condition has steadily worsened over the decades, with rainwater repeatedly flooding the basement and weakening its foundation.
Although never fully occupied, the structure has been repainted and periodically advertised for residential sale—raising serious concerns that innocent buyers may have been lured into purchasing space in a building deemed unsafe for years.
According to KDA sources, the authority formally warned the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) as far back as July 25, 2024, urging that the building be declared unfit for living and demolished without delay. In that letter, KDA even suggested the building could be considered for heritage classification, so any action—whether preservation or demolition—would be taken responsibly.
Yet, despite the warnings, no substantial steps have been taken, apart from routine replies by SBCA, insiders claim. A year later, the situation has worsened. On July 24, 2025, the KDA again wrote to SBCA’s Secretary of Dangerous Buildings, reiterating the urgency of immediate demolition. The letter emphasized that the building has now visibly begun to sink into the ground, increasing the threat of collapse by the day.
“If action isn’t taken soon, this could turn into another Lyari tragedy,” warned a KDA official, referencing last year’s deadly building collapse in Lyari that killed 27 people and shocked the city.
In the wake of that disaster, SBCA had launched an aggressive campaign to identify and vacate dangerous buildings across Karachi. Structural engineering teams were dispatched to survey aging infrastructure in the city’s oldest and most congested neighborhoods. So far, 59 buildings in District South alone have been listed as “extremely hazardous,” including 10 protected heritage structures.
Areas identified include Arambagh, Lawrence Quarters, Saddar Bazaar, Napier Quarters, Telu Ram Quarters, and Old Town, where many such fragile buildings still house residents. Authorities say 41 of these buildings have already been vacated and sealed, and efforts are ongoing to evacuate the rest.
The next step will involve controlled demolition of the unsafe structures, with help from district administrations and technical experts.
Meanwhile, the SBCA is urging citizens to stay vigilant and report any signs of structural damage—cracks in walls, tilting floors, or water seepage—especially in old apartment buildings. Reports can be submitted through the SBCA’s official online portal, which remains open for public use around the clock.
As for the building on MA Jinnah Road, the clock is ticking. Residents, nearby shopkeepers, and authorities are all watching closely—hoping action comes before tragedy does.
