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Business Recorder
7 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Karachi's urban landscape collapsing institutionally
EDITORIAL: For all the death and despair it caused, the Lyari building collapse may finally have shaken the system into some action. At least nine neighbouring buildings have been marked for evacuation and demolition. A five-member committee has been formed. And for once, even the Sindh governor has publicly promised consequences and compensation. But if this tragedy is going to be a turning point, it'll have to do much more than trigger temporary outrage and a few token demolitions. This wasn't just a random structural failure. It was criminal negligence, facilitated by a culture of impunity that extends from corrupt developers to complicit regulators. The Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD) has pointed to a systemic rot – unsafe, unauthorised constructions spreading across Karachi, aided by kickbacks, ignored violations, and an administration that turns a blind eye. In fact, 12 building collapses in recent years have already killed at least 150 people. How many more have to die before this is called what it is: manslaughter by design? Even now, residents of the affected area are protesting. Not because they want to live in crumbling buildings, but because the state has given them no safe alternative. Many of them paid for these homes with everything they had – only to be told their properties were never legal, never safe, and now being bulldozed without compensation or relocation plans. It is impossible to ignore the human cost of this breakdown. And it's even harder to ignore that it stems from a chain of greed, from the illegal floor constructed with a bribe to the planning permission granted under the table. ABAD's press conference didn't pull punches. It revealed that MDA and LDA have collected more than Rs25 billion over seven years for housing schemes that were never delivered. It also accused government departments, police, and regulators of being fully aware of what's happening – and taking their cut anyway. And in what should be an indictment of the entire system, the chairman warned that many building owners now simply wait for their structures to collapse so they can reclaim the land and start afresh. The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), of course, issued notices after the latest collapse, and has now started a safety drive. But the question must be asked: where were these notices before 27 people lost their lives? And where was the oversight when the building was being illegally modified, sold, and occupied? Now, the state is trying to present a more humane face. Governor Kamran Tessori has promised 80-square-yard plots, six months' rent, and ration supplies for displaced families. But even if all of that is delivered, which is a big 'if', it won't fix what's broken. Karachi's urban landscape is collapsing not just physically, but institutionally. This city has become a maze of unregulated growth, hollowed out by political patronage, administrative decay, and private profiteering. If there's any silver lining to be drawn from this moment, it's the sliver of urgency now visible across officialdom. But that will mean nothing unless it's followed by structural reform. ABAD has offered to help rebuild the unsafe buildings in 700 days and construct 100,000 homes if the government cooperates. If the state is serious, now is the time to test that offer. Karachi is still growing, still building – but mostly on lies, kickbacks, and unsafe foundations. Until there's accountability from top to bottom, from the man who fakes a building plan to the officer who signs off on it, the city will keep burying its poor under the rubble of its own corruption. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
09-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Unsafe buildings: ABAD underscores need for comprehensive reforms
KARACHI: The Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD) has demanded for immediate legislative action and comprehensive reforms to address the growing crisis of unsafe buildings in Karachi following the recent tragic collapse of a five-story building in Lyari. Speaking at a press conference held at ABAD House, Muhammad Hassan Bakhshi said that the competent authority should take immediate legislative action and comprehensive reforms to address the growing crisis of unsafe buildings in Karachi to avert tragic incidents of building collapse in the city. Bakhshi along with Senior Vice Chairman Syed Afzal Hameed, Vice Chairman Tariq Aziz, and other said that the city has witnessed 12 such incidents resulting in 150 deaths over the past few years, attributing these tragedies to 'corruption, greed, and negligence.' The ABAD chairman also criticised the Sindh government for failing to enact proper legislation regarding dilapidated buildings, adding that a disturbing pattern where property owners deliberately wait for buildings to collapse to claim plot ownership was observed. He requested the Sindh government to find solutions for approximately 700 identified unsafe buildings across the city. 'These buildings should be inspected with the assistance of National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK),' he urged. ABAD chairman also pointed out the widespread illegal construction in the city, where additional floors are being added to existing structures without proper authorisation. 'These constructions put public life and property at risk,' he said and added that such buildings typically have a lifespan of only 15-20 years. Bakhshi alleged that local administration, police, and relevant authorities are complicit in these illegal activities, while vulnerable populations are forced to live in these dangerous structures. He urged the government to increase compensation amount from Rs 1 million to Rs 2.5 million. The chairman ABAD further revealed that over the past seven years, authorities like MDA and LDA have collected over Rs 25 billion rupees for residential schemes that have never been delivered to the public. Bakhshi proposed that ABAD could construct dilapidated buildings within 700 days and is prepared to build 100,000 houses if requested by the Sindh government, suggesting the government to collaborate with Chinese companies in this regards. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Over 700 ‘dangerous' buildings in Karachi pose threat to lives, says ABAD chairman
Around 700 dangerous and hundreds of thousands of illegally and poorly constructed buildings in Karachi continue to pose a constant threat to the lives and properties of residents of the metropolitan city, Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD) chairman Muhammad Hassan Bakshi said on Tuesday. Speaking at a press conference at ABAD House, Bakshi rejected a government-formed committee investigating the recent building collapse in Lyari, demanding that representatives from the private sector be included in the inquiry. A five-story residential building collapsed in Karachi's Lyari last week, killing 27 people. After the building incident, Sindh government removed Ishaq Khowro from his position as Director General of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA). Shahmir Khan Bhutto has been appointed as his replacement. 'In the past five years, collapses of illegally constructed buildings have claimed 150 lives,' Bakshi said, attributing to 'corruption, greed, and government negligence'. 'Sindh government is showing no interest in developing a master plan for Karachi,' he said. 'Around 700 dangerous and hundreds of thousands of illegally and poorly constructed buildings in Karachi continue to pose a constant threat to the lives and properties of residents,' Bakshi warned. ABAD is willing to reconstruct all 700 dangerous buildings, according to its chairman, who demanded that families of those who died in the Lyari tragedy be compensated with Rs2.5 million each. Those rendered homeless should receive Rs1 million in aid, Bakshi added. He claimed that additional floors were being constructed illegally without approval, and the foundations and roofs of such buildings were only suitable for 15 to 20 years. 'Local authorities, police, and relevant officials are complicit in these illegal constructions, while residents, out of necessity, are forced to live in hazardous conditions,' ABAD chairman claimed. Construction sector: builders, developers call for 15-year tax policy Bakshi warned that in the event of an earthquake, thousands of these structures could collapse, leading to large-scale loss of life. He called for anti-terrorism charges to be filed against the builders responsible for illegal constructions and the government officials who enable them. Bakshi further criticised Sindh government for 'failing to enact effective legislation on the issue of dangerous buildings' and urged authorities to conduct a structural survey with the help of credible institutions such as NESPAK or NDMA. Bakshi identified the areas where dangerous buildings were located. The areas he claimed about including Delhi Colony, Liaquatabad, Lyari, and others. He further claimed that authorities like Malir Development Authority (MDA) and Lahore Development Authority (LDA) had collected over Rs25 billion under the guise of residential schemes but had failed to deliver even a single completed project. Meanwhile, ABAD chairman appealed to Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to launch housing schemes in Sindh similar to those introduced by Maryam Nawaz in Punjab, noting that there is 'a severe housing shortage in Sindh, which is being exploited by the mafia'. 'If Sindh government assigns ABAD the task of building 100,000 houses, the association is ready,' Bakshi said.
Business Recorder
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Karachi building collapse: ABAD for replacing all dilapidated structures with quality edifices
KARACHI: Association of Builders and Developers of Pakistan (ABAD) has proposed voluntarily replacing all dilapidated structures in Karachi with quality edifices, following a deadly building collapse in Lyari that claimed eight lives and left up to 25 others trapped under debris. The tragic incident occurred in the Baghdadi area of Lyari when a six-story residential building housing 20 apartments collapsed, killing eight people including a seven-year-old boy. The building, constructed in 1974 and home to six families, had been previously declared dangerous by city authorities, but no action was taken to relocate residents or reconstruct the structure. The collapse has reignited concerns about Karachi's building safety crisis, with over 400 structures in the city officially classified as dangerous. The incident highlights 'professional incompetency and high misconduct' within the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), which has allegedly enabled the mushroom growth of illegal construction throughout the city. According to the records, approximately 100,000 illegal residential buildings have been constructed in Karachi over the past decade, allegedly with the connivance of SBCA officials. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab responded to the tragedy by placing responsibility on the victims themselves. 'Today's unfortunate event is proof that when the government tells you something, listen,' Wahab said, acknowledging that authorities had only warned the inhabitants about the building's dangerous condition. The mayor admitted that more than 400 buildings in Karachi have been declared dangerous, saying that the government faces two options: 'either persuade people to leave or evict them forcefully.' However, he noted that administrations typically prefer persuasion over force. ABAD Chairman Muhammad Hassan Bakshi while expressing his condolence over the tragic incidents, said: 'Despite raising concerns multiple times, the Sindh government has failed to take effective action against illegal construction'. 'The lack of effective action has worsened the situation,' Bakshi said, warning that illegal constructions use poor quality materials and lack professional oversight, greatly endangering public safety. He offered a comprehensive solution to address the city's unsafe building crisis, saying that ABAD is ready to replace dilapidated structures with high-rise buildings meeting international standards. The proposal includes providing free, safe, and modern housing to current residents, contingent on appropriate legislation from the Sindh Assembly to proceed legally. He urged the Sindh government to urgently survey dangerous buildings, begin evacuations, and seriously consider ABAD's offer to ensure the long-term safety of Karachi's citizens. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
01-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
ABAD undertakes significant constitutional reform
KARACHI: Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD) has undertaken its most significant constitutional reform in over five decades, approving sweeping amendments to modernize its governance framework and comply with evolving regulatory requirements. According to the details, ABAD has formally adopted the amendments to its Memorandum and Articles of Association during a Special General Meeting at ABAD House. The comprehensive reforms mark the first substantial revision to ABAD's founding documents since the organization's establishment in 1972, addressing structural changes necessitated by Pakistan's transformed legal and regulatory environment. The constitutional overhaul comes in response to recent directives from the Directorate General of Trade Organizations (DGTO), which has mandated all established trade associations to align their governing documents with contemporary standards. The approved amendments introduce several pivotal organizational modifications. Most notably, the posts of Regional Chairman and Vice Chairman have been eliminated from ABAD's official structure, responding to DGTO objections outlined in Article 1 of the existing constitution. Under the revised governance model, sub-committees will now operate under Executive Committee oversight through amended Article 9(iii)(6), with membership expanded from two to five positions to enhance operational capacity. Regional membership processing has been restructured while maintaining established channels. New applications will continue flowing through Regional Committees, but these bodies will now function as Executive Committee appointees under the modified Article 9(v)(6). Additional revisions affect Articles 8(b)(ii) and 16(2), along with Clause 14 governing membership transfer procedures, streamlining administrative processes across the organization. 'Our existing Articles had remained static for 53 years, despite fundamental shifts in Pakistan's legal framework,' Chairman Bakhshi said. 'These amendments position ABAD to operate more effectively within today's regulatory environment,' he added. The meeting drew significant participation including Senior Vice Chairman Syed Afzal Hameed, Vice Chairman Tariq Aziz Memon, Southern Region Chairman Ahmad Owais Thanvi, and Hyderabad Sub-Region Vice Chairman Abdullah Jan Memon. Former chairmen Altaf Tai and Anwar Gagai also attended the proceedings. Bakhshi termed the reforms as essential for strengthening ABAD's advocacy capabilities and government relations. 'These changes will enable more effective collaboration with government institutions and enhanced representation of construction sector interests,' he stated. The amendments received majority approval following extensive member deliberations, reflecting broad consensus on the need for organizational modernization. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
