Sindh Announces Compensation for Lyari Building Collapse Victims’ Families

The Sindh government has announced financial assistance of Rs. 1 million for the families of each of the 27 victims who lost their lives in the recent building collapse in Lyari. Additionally, the Director General of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has been suspended following the tragedy.

The announcement was made during a joint press conference by Senior Provincial Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon and Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani, as reported by 24NewsHD on Monday.

Sharjeel Memon expressed solidarity with the victims’ families and vowed that those responsible for the incident would be held accountable and face the harshest legal consequences. He confirmed the suspension of the SBCA chief as an initial disciplinary step.

Speaking to the media, Minister Saeed Ghani said a fact-finding committee had been formed and is expected to submit its findings within two days. He stated that criminal cases (FIRs) would be registered against all individuals found guilty of negligence.

Ghani also announced plans to tighten building control regulations and urged citizens to ensure they check the No Objection Certificate (NOC) before purchasing any property.

Despite the seriousness of the case, the builder and contractor responsible for the collapsed seven-storey building in Lyari’s Agra Taj Colony have not been apprehended. The builder, identified as Mansoor Shah, reportedly fled after the incident and turned off his mobile phone. Police teams are conducting search operations to locate and arrest him.

A formal complaint has been filed at Kalri Police Station by SBCA’s Assistant Director Zafar Iqbal, stating that the builder used substandard construction materials. The FIR notes that eviction notices had been issued for the building on April 22 and July 2, warning that the structure posed a threat to life and property.

According to AFP, Pakistani rescue teams concluded a three-day search and recovery operation, retrieving 27 bodies from the rubble. Residents said they heard structural cracking sounds shortly before the building collapsed at around 10 a.m. on Friday.

Once notorious for gang violence, Lyari remains one of Karachi’s most economically deprived neighborhoods. District Commissioner Javed Nabi Khoso confirmed the end of the rescue operation and the death toll of 27.

Eviction orders had reportedly been issued between 2022 and 2024, but several tenants and property owners claim they were never notified. Among the deceased, 20 were identified as members of the Hindu community, most of whom were from financially struggling families, according to minority rights activist Sundeep Maheshwari.

Following the incident, district officials have evacuated five of over 50 structurally dangerous buildings in the area. Authorities say the clearing operation will continue until all hazardous structures are addressed.