The Sindh government rejected the director general of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) of the Sindh after 27 people who died in a collapse of the building in the Karachi region in Lyari. 51 other buildings were reserved for demolition after the exam.
Friday, the collapse of a five -story building in Baghdadi resulted in the death of 11 women, 16 men and a girl and a half, while 10 other people were injured. An injured person remains under treatment.
The final body to recover under the rubble was that of Muhammad Zaid, 15, who had been trapped for 48 hours.
Read: The collapse of the Lyari building in Karachi claims 27 lives while the rescue operation concludes
Zaid’s father and two brothers also died in the collapse. Rescue operations, despite difficult conditions, ended with any other victim that would be trapped.
The provincial government has promised 1 million compensation rupees for total families.
Dismissal and suspensions
At a press conference, the Sindh’s main information minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, the Minister of Local Governments Saeed Ghani and the Minister of Sindh, Zia-Ul-Hassan Lanjar, described the government’s response to the disaster.
Ghani confirmed that the Karachi Commissioner had been responsible for providing detailed information on 51 buildings deemed dangerous within 24 hours, including the number of units and residents. This information is crucial to start the demolition process, he said.
“These 51 buildings in poor condition will be treated urgently,” added Memon. “The necessary measures will be taken to ensure the safety of residents, and the demolition process will start as soon as we have the required details.”
The Sindh government led by the Pakistan Peoples’ Party has promised to take strict measures against those who have been judged responsible for the collapse, Ghani informing the media that the SBCA staff responsible for the supervision of Lyari has already been suspended.
In addition, the director general of the SBCA has been dismissed, he said, adding that a case will be filed against negligent agents, and those recognized guilty will be destroyed through legal proceedings.
The government has set up a new committee, led by the Karachi Commissioner, to investigate other dilapidated buildings across the city. The government has also promised RS1 million compensation for the families of the victims.
“We will not tolerate any criminal negligence,” said Lanjar. “The government is fully determined to hold responsible officials.”
Memon underlined the government’s commitment to strengthen the laws around illegal construction, with a two -week deadline set for changes in SBCA regulations.
Dilapidated
The Sindh government has also announced its intention to move residents of dangerous buildings and improve conditions in the 586 Dilapidated Karachi buildings.
While rescue operations were underway, three buildings adjacent to the collapsed structure have also been seriously damaged.
Two of the buildings have undergone significant structural damage, while a newly constructed six -storey building has been evacuated as a precaution. Despite the evacuation, operations continued as usual in the newly built building.
However, it was feared that the SBCA has not yet inspected the affected buildings, and no contact has been established with the owners or the residents of the two most vulnerable structures.
Sindh government spokesperson Sukhdev Hemnani assured that the provincial government remains firmly determined to support the victims of the collapse of the Lyari building, including members of the Hindu community.
“We will ensure that all the victims receive equal aid,” he said, adding that a recovery plan for the victims is currently being finalized.
The provincial government has reaffirmed its commitment to prioritize the needs of minorities and to ensure the security of all residents, especially in vulnerable communities like Lyari.
