THE death of 14 children in the roof collapse of a private tuition centre in Lahore has plunged the entire country into mourning. The victims, most of them less than nine years, had gathered for extra lessons in what should have been a safe environment. Instead, they became victims of a disaster that was totally preventable. A criminal case has been registered against the owners of the tuition centre and the contractor carrying out the repair work on the roof that caved in. But limiting responsibility to the owners and contractor risks overlooking a much larger and more serious failure. Where were the city authorities whose responsibility it is to enforce construction regulations, inspect unsafe structures and ensure that buildings being used by the public meet basic safety standards? Accountability cannot stop with private individuals when public institutions, too, have badly failed in their duty.

This tragedy is not an isolated incident. Pakistan has witnessed a long list of similar disasters caused by unsafe buildings, weak regulations and official negligence. Karachi, in particular, has repeatedly seen residential and commercial buildings collapse, killing dozens of people over the years. Time after time, investigations point to the same underlying problems: illegal construction, unauthorised additions to existing structures, poor-quality materials, weak engineering standards and the complete disregard of building bylaws. The reality is that building regulations are routinely flouted with little fear of consequences. Structures are often erected or altered without approvals or inspections. Existing buildings are modified far beyond their original design capacity. Officials responsible for oversight either look the other way or fail to enforce the law. As cities expand rapidly, and often haphazardly, such buildings increasingly become death traps waiting for the next accident. Every major building collapse is followed by expressions of grief, promises of transparent investigations and assurances that those responsible will be punished. Yet little changes. The deaths of these children should force policymakers to confront the deeper crisis of urban governance. Strict enforcement of building codes, regular audits of older buildings and accountability of regulatory authorities will never become a priority unless we have an effective, elected local government system. The children who lost their lives in Lahore deserved better from everyone entrusted with their safety. Unless we end the culture of impunity surrounding unsafe construction and regulatory failures, this will not be the last tragedy of its kind.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2026