Published July 13, 2025
Karachi:
The collapse of a five-story residential building in Lyaris Bagdadi area on July 12, which claimed at least 27 lives and wounded many more, has again exposed the deep advice in Karachi’s city management and disaster preparedness.
Despite official warnings, the building remained occupied. Its possible collapse met with scenes with chaos, delayed rescue efforts and overwhelmed emergencies that navigated in narrow spawns with insufficient equipment.
While volunteers and rescuers did their best in serious circumstances, the tragedy emphasized a gloomy reality: If a crumbling structure can stretch Karachi’s rescue system to its borders, what would happen in the event of a large earthquake or a bitter emergency?
Rescue and relief system insufficient
In the case of a large earthquake or any natural disaster that causes the collapse of several buildings in Karachi, the city’s rescue and relief infrastructure is alarmingly inadequate. At the provincial, district or municipal level, there is almost no comprehensive or fully functional disaster management system in place.
Currently under KMC and Rescue 1122, there are only two city search and rescue (USAR) wings active in Karachi. These wings include over 150 trained staff, but are equipped with limited machines and resources. There is no disaster management department for district level and no established communication system between different rescue and relief organizations. This lack of coordination was evident during the recent Lyari tragedy, where delays and incorrect management were reported during rescue operations.
Illegal construction and poor regulationS.
Mohammad Tauheed, city planner and director of Karachi Urban Lab (IBA), with reference to media reports, shared that a five-story building collapsed in Baghdadi, Lyari, killed 27 people and wounded nine. He emphasized that Karachi has become a jungle of illegal constructions in the past two decades, and these continue uncontrollably.
The most dangerous trend, he said, is the construction of illegal apartments with several floors on small grounds of 40, 60 or 80 square meters, often with several narrow portions per day. Floor, some so poorly designed that natural light and ventilation do not exist.
The rescue operation at Lyari took more than 50 hours to complete. Tauheed noted that with Karachis estimated population is approaching 30 million. At the same time, the official census sets it at 20.3 million, the city’s rescue and relief functions are dangerously inadequate for its size and density.
A city by seismic risk
Karachi recently experienced mild tremors and causes no harm, but seismologists warn of potential stronger earthquakes. Should several buildings collapse, the absence of a functional disaster action mechanism at urban or district level would spell disaster. Usar and other facilities are inadequate. Equipment is missing, staff numbers are low and any large -scale disaster can take days or weeks to control.
Tauheed recommends that a city city level be established for disaster management authority (TDMA) in each of Karachi’s 25 cities. This would give a localized and quick response. In addition, all rescue employees must be trained to international standards, and KMC should house a central disaster management unit that coordinates with urban authorities.
’60, 000 illegal buildings are found ‘
Chairman of the Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD), Hassan Bakhshi, estimated that there are 60,000 illegally constructed buildings in Karachi, and more than 600 structures have been dangerously declined. He called for stricter laws and effective implementation to stop illegal constructions. He also expressed emergency preparedness to support any government initiative to resettle residents from uncertain buildings.
Bakhshi revealed that between 2017 and 2025 Karachi witnessed 12 building collapse and claimed about 150 lives. He identified two important causes: structurally unsafe (fallen) buildings and illegal constructions. “When a building is declared unsafe, the plot owner is for the benefit of this perverse incentive; this must end,” he warned.
He suggested a three -phase action plan, an urban structure study of independent experts, immediate repair of salvage buildings, and reconstruction of those without repair under strict legal obligation. Bakhshi claimed that about 85,000 buildings in Karachi are illegally expanded, accusing Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and municipal bodies to facilitate corruption. He warned that the city could meet disaster if an earthquake had to strike considering the poor quality and uncertain structures. He called SBCA a “symbol of corruption,” and demanded that the authority be divided into two departments, technology and approvals and called for cases against negligent builders and officials to be heard in courts against terrorism because of the life -threatening consequences of their actions.
With reference to the Lyari tragedy, ABAD, Rs. 2.5 million in compensation for the deceased families, Rs. 1 million for those who left homeless people and an independent investigation, excluding SBCA and municipal officers. ABAD also offered to help the Sindh government identify and rehabilitate uncertain structures. Bakhshi further criticized Malir Development Authority (MDA) for having collected Rs. 25 billion without handing over plot in 30 years.
Bakhshi, who confirmed Abad’s commitment, said, “We are ready to rebuild all fallen buildings in 700 days,” and called on the Sindh government to launch housing arrangements similar to those announced in Punjab.
Senior Vice -President of ABAD, Syed Afzal Hameed, repeated these concerns with reference to administrative negligence at the Lyari cohabitation and the uncontrolled increase in illegal constructions, even in cantoic areas. They also raised alarms about Karachi’s long -term master plan, land corruption and legal interests warning that without bold, systemic reforms, the city’s housing crisis will only elaborate.
KMC’s answer: limited but modernizing
Chief Fire and Rescue Officer for KMC, Humayun Khan, said that after the 2005 towers in Margalla towers in Islamabad, USAR units were formed nationwide. Karachi’s USAR -Team, a collaboration between KMC and NDMA, was the first to meet international standards.
The team includes 88 trained staff, equipped with radars, sensors and life detection cameras to locate the survivors trapped under rubble. Their headquarters also houses a training school and three sub -units, supported by 200+ volunteers. KMC has five snorkels to save people trapped in high -rise buildings and expands his services under Mayor Murtaza Wahab.
Rescue 1122: Works for International Standards
Spokesman Hassan Ul Haseeeb from Rescue 1122 SINDH explained that their urban search and rescue wing operates under international UN guidelines. Punjab’s 1122 team was the first in South Asia to be certified globally.
Karachis 1122 USAR -Team includes 55 employees, led by Commander Dr. Abid Jalaluddin Sheikh, a globally certified coach. In the Lyari tragedy, his team led operations using advanced tools such as search cameras, life detectors and radar-based systems to discover and save trapped people. The team also uses cutting tools, hydraulic equipment and exercises for waste removal.
Imran-Ul-Haq, head of rescue operations in a local welfare organization, pointed out the lack of coordination among rescue agencies under major disasters. He emphasized the need for a centralized communication system between all governments and private rescue services with reference to the Lyari incident as a good example of this failure.
Currently, over 1,500 ambulances operate in Karachi, driven by a mix of government and private organizations, but without a total response protocol.
A spokesman for Sindh Local Government Department revealed that 588 buildings in Karachi have officially been declared dangerous. However, the residents are reluctant to leave. The government is working on a policy to move these residents and increase rescue and relief functions throughout the city.
