Tragedy escalates in Pakistan as death toll from building collapse reaches 27
In the bustling city of Karachi, Pakistan, a five-story building in the Lyari neighbourhood collapsed on Friday morning, claiming the lives of 27 people. The rescue operation to clear the debris is being overseen by the government rescue service 1122.
Karachi, home to over 20 million residents, is notorious for its poor construction, illegal extensions, ageing infrastructure, overcrowding, and lax enforcement of building regulations. Despite existing safety regulations, building collapses are common in the city due to widespread issues of unsafe and dilapidated buildings, poor construction standards, and lax enforcement of regulations.
Official records show that 588 buildings citywide are unsafe, with the old district South having 456 dangerous buildings alone. Many buildings on the unsafe list, like the one that collapsed in Lyari in July 2025, were not evacuated due to a lack of government initiative and residents' reluctance or inability to leave.
Structural weaknesses are often worsened by environmental factors like recent heavy rains, which further strain old and poorly maintained buildings. Residents and landlords sometimes do not receive or acknowledge eviction notices, hindering timely evacuations.
The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has identified and listed dangerous structures across the city and issued eviction notices where possible. However, the underlying problems of poverty, housing shortages, and weak governance continue to hamper effective mitigation, making Karachi vulnerable to building collapses.
One of the victims of the latest collapse was 54-year-old Dev Raj, who lost his daughter in the tragedy. Dev Raj described his daughter as sensitive. She had got married just six months prior to the building collapse.
The rescue operation is expected to finish by the afternoon of the same day. Authorities and rescue services are improving their preparedness and response for emergencies related to building collapses. Accountability measures have also been initiated, such as suspending officials responsible for oversight failures following major collapse tragedies.
However, sustainable solutions would require coordinated efforts to upgrade infrastructure, improve regulatory enforcement, provide affordable housing alternatives, and enhance public awareness of construction safety. The building collapse in Karachi is one of many in Pakistan due to poor safety standards and shoddy construction materials. It serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for action to ensure the safety of the city's residents.
In Karachi, where building collapses are a concerning aspect due to unsafe structures, lax regulations, and poor construction standards, the latest collapse on a five-story building in the Lyari neighborhood led to calls for improved general-news coverage and stricter crime-and-justice enforcement to address this pressing issue. With 588 buildings citywide marked as unsafe, and the old district South alone hosting 456 dangerous buildings, it is crucial for the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) to intensify their efforts in upgrading infrastructure, enforcing regulations, providing affordable housing alternatives, and increasing public awareness about construction safety to prevent future tragedies in politics and society.
