Karachi:
Sindh’s main minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that Minister Murad Ali Shah immediately suspended the director general of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and has formed an investigation committee, which will submit his report on the tragic incident within two days.
Sharjeel Memon expressed deep sadness and sorrow on the tragic incident of the collapse of construction in Lyari while addressing a press conference on Monday. He said that Minister Murad Ali Shah had chaired an emergency meeting and decided that strict measures would be taken against irresponsible and corrupt officers.
The investigation committee, led by Commissioner Karachi, was invited to immediately demolish 51 buildings extremely dilapidated in the city. 588 other dangerous buildings will also be inspected to ensure that dangerous structures are canceled and demolished in a timely manner.
Saeed Ghani said that affected families will receive a million rupees each in compensation. He added that all the officers who have been displayed in the area affected since 2022 will be included in the survey, and that a case will be registered against officers whose negligence is proven.
The Minister of the Interior, Lanjar, said that measures would be taken against leaders of criminal negligence.
In response to a question, the main minister said that the government examined the situation in the slums, noting that 740 buildings across the Sindh require repairs.
He added that relocated residents would not be a problem, as similar arrangements have been successfully implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic and for flood victims.
Answering a question, Saeed Ghani said illegal constructions are a serious problem in Karachi and that he is the responsibility of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) to prevent them. He added that changes to the SBCA rules were underway, and suggestions were sought within two weeks to allow effective action against illegal constructions and abandoned buildings.
He added that the government is also examining whether the authority of demolishing buildings should stay with SBCA or be entrusted to a private institution.
The main minister Sharjeel was accompanied by the Minister of the Interior Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, the Minister of Local Governments Saeed Ghani and the Minister of Acceptes and Taxation Mukesh Kumar Chawla.
