KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has directed that an independent expert be appointed to conduct a structural assessment of buildings that were recently sealed by the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) on safety grounds.
Members of the SBCA’s Technical Committee appeared before the court and were questioned about the process through which the authority determines whether a building is unsafe for habitation.
During the proceedings, Justice Iqbal Kalhoro observed that residents had complained that the SBCA was declaring buildings unsafe without proper technical evaluation and evicting occupants arbitrarily. “People are alleging that their buildings are being declared dangerous without transparent assessment. How does the Technical Committee determine that a structure is hazardous?” the judge asked.
The court emphasized that labeling a building as unsafe is a serious matter that directly affects the rights and livelihoods of residents and, therefore, must be supported by a neutral and verifiable structural analysis.
Justice Kalhoro ordered that an independent structural engineer—not affiliated with the SBCA—should conduct an impartial inspection of the disputed buildings and submit a detailed report to the court. The report will determine whether the buildings truly pose a risk to public safety or if the sealing orders were issued prematurely.
The court further directed the SBCA to ensure full cooperation with the independent expert and to avoid any unnecessary displacement of residents until the inspection report is completed.
The next hearing has been scheduled after the expert’s report is submitted, where the court is expected to decide whether the SBCA’s actions were justified or if the affected buildings can be reopened for occupancy.
