Karachi: The Sindh government has decided to demolish 51 out of 586 buildings declared unsafe in Karachi. The commissioner has been directed to survey the remaining buildings. The head of SBCA has been suspended over the Lyari tragedy. Rs. 1 million will be given to the deceased.
This was stated by Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani and Interior Minister Zia-ul-Najjar while holding a press conference.
Sharjeel Memon said that 27 innocent lives were lost due to the collapse of the building in Lyari. We are all saddened. An important meeting was held at the Chief Minister’s House today in which the Sindh Chief Minister took strict notice and directed that strict action be taken against those who are responsible for the negligence.
The Information Minister said that the staff of the Building Control Authority had already been suspended by the Minister of Local Government, today the DG SBCA has been suspended, today the scope of the committee has been expanded to include the Commissioner, Cantonment Boards have their own laws, the Sindh government has its own laws, the Sindh Building Control Authority cannot come under any mayor.
He said that this building was built by private people, they are looking after the slums,
There are 744 buildings in Sindh which need some work, there is no problem in shifting people, we have also made arrangements for Corona and flood victims.
Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani said that I had suspended the officers who were posted in this area, all the officers who have been there since 2022 will be made part of the inquiry, it has also been decided to register a case and any officer whose negligence is shown will be put in the case, today another committee has been formed under the chairmanship of the Commissioner Karachi, the Commissioner has been given the responsibility to check how many more buildings are damaged in Karachi.
Saeed Ghani said that how many people are living in these buildings, how can they be rehabilitated. He said that one million rupees will be provided to the people who died in the building collapse in Lyari, if any negligence of the DG SBCA is also revealed, his name will also be included in the FIR, the same DG was there in 2022.
Saeed Ghani said that there are currently 586 dilapidated buildings in Karachi, out of which 51 have been decided to be demolished. It is also necessary to evict people from dilapidated buildings. Strict laws are being brought against illegal constructions. How can legal action be taken against those who build illegal buildings? We are considering it. Two weeks have been given for amendments in the SBCA law. Going forward, if the committee recommends any legal action, we will also follow it.
He said that we have given the responsibility to the commissioner to check who is living on the landlord, tenant and turban system. I agree that illegal constructions are taking place in Karachi. It is the responsibility of SBCA to stop illegal constructions.
But SBCA does not stop them because of its financial stake. We are working on a law to give the process of demolishing buildings to SBCA or to a private institution.
Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Najjar said that we will see which officers are involved and strict action will be taken against them. The government is very serious about this matter. Precious lives have been lost. Those who committed criminal negligence will be arrested very soon.