KARACHI: The city administration has decided to vacate all 584 dilapidated and dangerous buildings in Karachi before the monsoon rains.

Officials from the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), district administration and culture department briefed the Karachi commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi about the dilapidated and dangerous buildings in Karachi.

The meeting participants were informed that according to a survey by the SBCA, there are 584 dangerous buildings in Karachi, including 59 extremely dilapidated and dangerous buildings.

The 59 extremely dilapidated buildings include 29 historical buildings.

The commissioner said that priority measures were needed to vacate the extremely dilapidated buildings to protect the lives of residents and historical buildings.

In total, 29 historical buildings are included in the dilapidated buildings, and more than 90 per cent of them are located in South District.

The SBCA informed the meeting participants that 442 buildings are located in South District. While 73 buildings are located in Central District, 16 in East District, 18 in Korangi District, 28 in Keamari District, five in Malir District and two in West District.

The meeting decided that the SBCA should immediately provide a list of highly dilapidated buildings requiring immediate vacating to deputy commissioners and take priority steps in collaboration with the district administration to vacate the buildings.

It was decided that action would be taken to demolish the dilapidated buildings depending on their nature.

The meeting decided that before the action, the SBCA would advertise the list of the dilapidated buildings through all means of publicity to inform the residents and the general public.

It was decided in the meeting that the SBCA will immediately issue notices to vacate the buildings.

It was also decided that in case of non-compliance, action will be taken to disconnect gas, electricity and water connections of the buildings with the cooperation of the utility institutions concerned, while priority measures will be taken for temporary accommodation or rehabilitation of the affected residents.

The meeting was attended by Additional Director General of Sindh Building Control Authority Ali Ghufran, Director General of Culture Department Abdul Fattah, deputy commissioners and additional deputy commissioners.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2026