Hundreds of Flats in Karachi Deemed Unsafe due to Water Seepage
Collapse of multistory buildings lead to surge in trauma patients
and increase pressure on Emergency Medical Services
Loss of precious lives due to collapse of multistory buildings
KARACHI: During the recent rains, as has become all too common, several multistory buildings collapsed in different parts of the city, resulting in the tragic loss of precious lives. These recurring disasters highlight the inefficiency, incompetence, and rampant corruption within regulatory bodies that are supposed to ensure construction safety and standards.
In many older, densely populated areas of Karachi, multistory buildings have been erected even on small plots—often without any formal approval. Yet, no one seems to check or question these unauthorized constructions. In other localities, the so-called “Builder Mafia” initially obtains permission for a limited number of floors and later adds more illegally, often by bribing regulatory officials. Little to no attention is paid to the structural integrity of the foundations or the quality of materials used.
In some cases, large plots are subdivided and later regularized, allowing builders to construct multiple portions. Initially, approvals are granted for two floors, but over time, an additional two or three floors are quietly added without scrutiny. A visit to the hundreds of newly constructed flats in areas like Gulistan-e-Jauhar clearly reveals the severity of the problem. Many of these buildings already exhibit structural cracks and severe water seepage from bathrooms, which has compromised their integrity. If corrective action is not taken, it is only a matter of time before more buildings begin to collapse, one after the other. It raises the critical question: why aren’t the authorities addressing this before more lives are lost?
Professional ethics must be upheld across all industries—including construction. Builders must adhere to ethical practices when planning and executing high-rise projects. Those responsible for substandard construction must be held accountable. Builders involved in such malpractices should be blacklisted and permanently banned from the industry. On a more positive note, there are still some reputable professionals whose projects are known for quality and trust; their projects often sell out quickly due to their good reputation.
Collapse of multistory buildings during rains and floods also leads to surge in trauma patients and increased demand on emergency medical services, provision of emergency beds and emergency surgical interventions. As a result, routine services like antenatal care, dialysis, surgery or even immunization services might have to be suspended. It also results in increased mental and physical stress on health workers. All this shows that if preventive measures are in place, all this can be avoided.
As such the government would do well to initiate a comprehensive survey of all high-rise buildings in major cities across Pakistan. Unsafe buildings must be identified, and strict action should be taken against both the builders and the officials who approved them.
Another alarming example involves a medical college building constructed just 25 years ago, which has suffered serious damage due to water seepage from bathrooms. These facilities are now being shut down, and new ones are being built in another part of the building—causing significant inconvenience for patients and staff. Those responsible for the construction and approval of this building must be identified and held accountable with exemplary punishment.
Good construction practices are routinely ignored. In high-rise buildings, waterproofing systems are critical, yet builders often fail to use compatible materials. Plumbing quality is typically poor, leading to long-term seepage caused by leaky joints, improper slopes, or poorly sealed pipe penetrations. Builders frequently use low-grade materials, and proper pressure testing is rarely done before plumbing systems are concealed.
It is essential that water flows properly toward floor traps, with no stagnant water or poorly drained corners. Bathrooms in particular require careful attention to interfaces—tile to slab, wall to floor, pipe to concrete—all of which must be sealed with appropriate materials. Expansion joints must be respected and not concealed improperly.
The proposed survey should also assess post-construction maintenance issues, such as clogged traps, broken tiles, failed sealants, and overall upkeep. A failure to reapply sealants or waterproofing materials every 5–10 years can lead to extensive seepage and ultimately structural failure.
Finally, regulatory oversight during critical construction stages—such as slab casting, waterproofing, and plumbing—is vital. Unfortunately, not only is regular maintenance grossly inadequate, but the regulatory authorities also consistently fail to perform their supervisory roles.
