Lahore:
In response to the growing risk of structural failures in the ongoing monsoon season – and after the recent deadly building collapses in Sindh, who claimed dozens of life – has authorities in Punjab launched a comprehensive study to identify and secure dangerous buildings in the historic Walled City of Lahore.
The fenced city of Lahore Authority (WCLA) launched the effort as part of its annual monsoon campaign, but this year’s operation has increased urgent speed. Persistent rain, combined with aging infrastructure and urban intervention, has increased the risk of structural failure throughout the provincial capital. In a parallel measure, the Lahore District Administration recently sealed nearly two dozen uncertain buildings around the world due to stability problems.
Instructed by WCLA -Human Director Maleha Rashid, the authority’s inspection team has begun with detailed assessments of buildings across Androon Lahore – how many properties, some dated centuries, now show signs of serious neglect, unauthorized changes and structural fatigue.
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“Androon Lahore’s cultural heritage is not just a reflection of our past – it is a living inheritance that defines our national identity,” Rashid said in a statement. “To preserve it is not just a responsibility but an obligation to future generations.”
To conduct the study, WCLA uses a hybrid approach that mixes physical inspections on the ground with digital mapping tools. This allows officials to effectively assess structural vulnerabilities and flag buildings with immediate risk of collapse. Timely identification, the authorities say is the key to averting preventable damage and loss of life.
In support of the initiative, WCLA has also established a monitoring committee to enforce compliance with inheritance and construction. The team – composed Deputy Director Nosheen Zaidi, resettlement expert Ali Islam Gill and Deputy Director Ahmad Usman Diwan – have been tasked with cracking down on illegal construction, unauthorized demolitions, non -approved basic excavations and other violations of protected zones.
Once dangerous structures are identified, the authority plans to pursue site-specific strategies range ranging from targeted rehabilitation and restoration to when needed, controlled demolition. The study results will serve as the basis for these interventions and future planning.
According to WCLA figures from 2024, almost 1,300 buildings in the wall city were identified as a need for considerable repair, with 400 erected for demolition and at least 20 classified as extremely dangerous. Despite messages and warnings, many of these privately owned buildings remain occupied due to lack of resources, moving opportunities or public attention.
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The threat extends beyond the bounds of the walled city. A recent study at district level highlighted 96 dangerously fallen buildings over Lahore, with Data Ganj Bakhsh zone accounting for more than 42 of them. High density areas such as Fleming Road, Ravi Road, Mochi Gate and Garhi Shahu are especially in danger. In some cases, only partial demolitions have been found, leaving unstable parts still inhabited.
While authorities continue to issue evacuation messages, many residents remain in place with reference to financial restrictions and the absence of formal resettlement programs. Officials warn that with the over-average rainfall for the current season, delays in the action can prove disastrous.
The increasing risks are strengthening the importance of WCLA’s ongoing efforts – not as a conservation initiative, but as a critical operation of public security. Experts warn that Lahore without urgent, coordinated government support and timely restoration faces the double threat of human tragedy and irreversible cultural loss.
