The Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD) has issued a scathing indictment of the Sindh government’s failure to tackle Karachi’s mounting building safety crisis, demanding immediate legislation and sweeping reforms following the deadly collapse of a five-story building in Lyari.
Speaking at an urgent press conference at ABAD House, Chairman Muhammad Hassan Bakhshi declared the city’s unsafe structures a critical threat requiring instant government intervention to prevent further tragedies. He revealed a grim pattern: 12 building collapses claiming 150 lives over recent years, driven by what ABAD termed “corruption, greed, and negligence.”
Hassan Bakhshi, flanked by Senior Vice Chairman Syed Afzal Hameed and Vice Chairman Tariq Aziz, accused the Sindh government of chronic inaction on legislation for dilapidated buildings. He highlighted a particularly disturbing trend: property owners allegedly delaying repairs and deliberately waiting for collapses to claim valuable plot ownership. ABAD urgently requested the government to find solutions for approximately 700 identified unsafe buildings across the city, recommending inspections be conducted with the expertise of National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK).
The chairman also condemned rampant illegal construction, where unauthorized additional floors are added to existing structures. “These constructions put public life and property at risk,” Bakhshi warned, noting such buildings often have a perilously short lifespan of only 15-20 years. He alleged deep-seated complicity, stating, “Local administration, police, and relevant authorities are complicit in these illegal activities,” forcing vulnerable residents into deadly homes.
ABAD demanded the government significantly increase compensation for victims’ families from Rs 1 million to Rs 2.5 million. In a further bombshell, Bakhshi revealed that authorities like MDA and LDA had collected over Rs 25 billion rupees for promised residential schemes that remain undelivered to the public after seven years.
Offering a solution, Hassan Bakhshi stated ABAD stands ready to construct replacement buildings within 700 days and build 100,000 houses if commissioned by the Sindh government, suggesting potential collaboration with Chinese companies. The ball, ABAD insists, is now firmly in the government’s court to act before the next disaster strikes.
