Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Memon acknowledged on Wednesday that the provincial government cannot provide alternative housing for all residents of 740 dilapidated buildings across the province, including 51 structures deemed “extremely dangerous.” His statement follows Friday’s deadly collapse of a five-story building in Karachi’s Lea Market, which killed 27 people and concluded rescue operations on Sunday. The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) had previously declared the building uninhabitable and issued evacuation notices since 2023.
Memon revealed that 11 high-risk buildings have already been vacated, with orders to clear the remaining within 48 hours. However, he emphasized that no legal obligation compels the government to resettle displaced residents, though temporary shelters—similar to those provided during floods and COVID-19—may be arranged for the most desperate cases.
The Sindh government has suspended SBCA DG Ishaque Khuhro and several Lyari-based officials (including directors and inspectors) over the collapse. Rs1 million compensation was announced for each victim’s family. Meanwhile, opposition parties (PTI, MQM-P, JI) have slammed the PPP-led administration for “criminal negligence,” demanding manslaughter charges against responsible officials and permanent housing for affected families.
The tragedy has reignited debates on urban safety and accountability in Sindh, where decaying infrastructure and lax enforcement repeatedly lead to fatal incidents. Critics argue that merely evacuating buildings without resettlement plans leaves Karachi’s poor in deeper crisis, calling for systemic reforms to prevent future disasters.