Another residential building has collapsed in Karachi and the death toll is significantly high. At least eighteen people have been killed and dozens are injured in Golimar area, a lower-income and highly congested locality in the city.
The building was not in a dilapidated condition as it was constructed only four years ago, but constructing a five-storey apartment on an area of 80 square yards is disastrous. Local authorities have failed to control the mushrooming growth of illegal and hazardous buildings.
This is the second such incident in the city in a span of a month. Early in February, another five-storey building in Lyari’s Usmanabad area developed cracks and tilted in a precarious position. Last December, a dilapidated six-storey building, having 19 apartments, collapsed in Ranchore Line area. Luckily there was no loss of life as people had evacuated the building before it collapsed to the ground.
The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) is responsible for the incident as it issues permits to construct these buildings flouting all rules and regulations and bypassing safety standards. The SBCA is notorious for preying on residents in impoverished neighbourhoods to issue these permits. This has ruined the beauty of Karachi by unchecked, haphazard and unauthorised construction of buildings.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed has admonished provincial authorities over the building collapse and threatened to take stern action if there is no change. He said that those hindering the performance of those who were working will be fired on the spot as no one has bothered to take action. Just days earlier, 28 people were suspended over corruption allegations in SBCA. This caused protests and the director-general resigned immediately showing how unscrupulous elements react when action is taken.
It is a common sight to see tall buildings constructed on small plots in the narrow streets of Golimar and other lower-income areas of Karachi. Many plots are occupied and residential buildings are constructed on them. People spend their hard-earned savings to buy a house and get duped. Local authorities are unable to help them neither is an action taken those responsible for such incidents.
Despite strict orders from the apex court, the illegal construction of buildings continues unabated and an impression is given that the situation is now under control. The Supreme Court should reinforce its decisions to end political patronage and ensure that such practices are completely eliminated.
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