British High Commissioner Jane Marriott has expressed deep grief over the collapse of a five-story residential building in Lyari, Karachi, who claimed the lives of at least 27 people and wounded 10 others.
In a message sent on X, Marriott said she was “deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life in Lyari after the collapse of a residential building” and extended her condolences to the affected families.
She also praised “brave rescue workers working tirelessly in extremely difficult conditions.”
Deeply sadness of the tragic loss of life in Lyari after the collapse of a residential building. My thoughts are with families and brave rescue workers who have worked tirelessly in the most difficult conditions.
– Jane Marriott (@janemarriottuk) July 6, 2025
The tragedy took place on July 4 in the Baghdadi area of Lyari when the fallen building suddenly came down. The original police reports suggest that up to 100 inhabitants lived there at the time – many of them women and more from Hindu society.
Senior police officer ARIF Aziz told AFP that the collapse of the building was suddenly and attributed to structural weaknesses. Meanwhile, the district government official Javi Nabi Khoso revealed that the authorities had issued postponement notifications in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
“We will not impose our orders by force. We work in stages and send them messages … They did not take the messages seriously,” he said.
Read more: Karachis Lyari Building Collapse claims 27 life as rescue operation ends
However, Imran Khaskheli – an owner and resident who observed the rescue effort – repeated the claim. “Do you think we’re out of our senses to stay in an insecure building with our families?” He asked.
In the wake of the collapse, Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) recorded a case at Kalri Police Station against the developer and a named contractor. FIR claims the use of substandard materials and illegal construction practices that jeopardize residents’ lives and demand the building’s seal.
Deputy Commissioner South announced that if any government officials are found an accomplice, litigation will follow. He also insured support for victims of recovering financial losses from the developer.
Authorities have identified more than 50 buildings across Lyari as structurally unsafe, with six already evacuated since the incident, according to Khoso. The tragedy has once again highlighted many years of concerns about illegal construction and escaped enforcement in the city’s underprivileged neighborhoods.
