The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has identified 740 dangerously dilapidated buildings across the province – 588 of which are in Karachi – as uninhabitable due to the looming threat of structural collapse during the monsoon season.

The SBCA has issued fresh evacuation notices to residents, warning that these century-old structures are at high risk of partial or complete collapse in heavy rains.

However, many occupants have refused to vacate, citing the buildings’ prime locations in city centres, which provide easy access to essential services.

A huge number of these structures house families of migrants from 1947, who, unable to afford alternative housing, continue to live in the same properties their elders had occupied after Partition.

In preparation for monsoon-related emergencies, the SBCA has established 24/7 Rain Emergency Centres at its Karachi headquarters and regional offices in Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Sukkur, and Larkana.

These centres, operating under the direct supervision of SBCA Director General Muhammad Ishaq Khuhro, are staffed with technical teams working in three shifts to ensure immediate response to building collapses or other rain-induced disasters.

The authority has also launched an awareness campaign, using loudspeakers and banners in high-risk areas, urging residents to evacuate. “Rainwater seepage further weakens already compromised foundations, increasing the risk of collapse. Electrical short circuits leading to fires are another major concern,” warned DG Khuhro.

The SBCA made a final appeal to residents, stressing that continued occupancy of these buildings poses a severe threat to life and property.

The authority has assured that it is coordinating with rescue services and relevant departments to handle any emergencies promptly.