Category: 1. Pakistan

A five-storey residential building collapsed in Karachi’s Lyari neighbourhood, claiming at least one life and injuring at least five people, rescue officials said on Friday.

All injured persons were shifted to the Trauma Centre at Civil Hospital Karachi, hospital sources confirmed. One person is in critical condition, while the others sustained minor injuries and are receiving treatment.

The collapse occurred in the Baghdadi area of Lyari. 

Rescue personnel said five people, including three woman, were initially pulled from the rubble with injuries.

Authorities fear more individuals may be trapped beneath the debris. A rescue operation is ongoing.

Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah has taken the notice of the incident.

This is a developing story, more details to follow…

In a major development aimed at facilitating religious pilgrims, the government of Pakistan has increased weekly flights to Iran from six to fifteen and announced 107 special flights to Iraq for Arbaeen, a significant religious event observed forty days after Ashura.

These measures were finalised during an important meeting of the special task force established to streamline travel for pilgrims to Iran and Iraq.

The meeting was chaired by Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and attended by Federal Ministers Sardar Muhammad Yousuf, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, and Talal Chaudhry, as well as top officials from civil aviation and other relevant departments.

During the briefing by Civil Aviation Authority officials, it was revealed that in addition to the increase in Iran-bound flights, elaborate arrangements have been made to operate 107 special flights for pilgrims travelling to Iraq for Arbaeen.

The task force also reviewed long-term facilitation plans, including the introduction of a ferry service in the near future.

Key security and logistics decisions were made during the session to enhance safety and convenience for pilgrims. A proposal to further increase the number of flights to Iran and Iraq was discussed.

The task force also agreed to reassess the ground travel arrangements for Arbaeen following Ashura to ensure updated security protocols are in place.

Significantly, the government has decided to overhaul the pilgrim management system. From January 1, 2026, the existing “Salar System” will be completely phased out, and only registered group organisers will be authorised to send pilgrims for religious visits abroad. As of now, 1,413 applications for group organiser registration have been received and are under scrutiny.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, while addressing the meeting, emphasised that the safety and well-being of pilgrims remain the government’s top priority. He stressed that in light of the current regional and security situation, every effort must be made to ensure pilgrims are protected from all forms of hardship or illegal exploitation.

The minister directed the FIA and relevant agencies to take robust action to prevent any misuse of pilgrimage arrangements for illegal travel to Iraq. He underscored the importance of strict enforcement and real-time screening to deter unauthorised movements.

The meeting also included participation from the secretaries of the interior, religious affairs, information, and foreign ministries, along with DG FIA, DG Civil Aviation, the Additional Chief Secretary of Balochistan, IG Balochistan, Commissioner Quetta, and other officials who joined the session via Zoom.

Reporter: Awais Kiyani

At least five people died and seven were injured after a five-storey building collapsed in Karachi’s Lyari area on Friday, officials said.

Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed confirmed to Dawn.com that five people were dead, including a woman, who succumbed to her wounds during treatment.

Four men and three women were wounded and brought to Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK), according to a list of patients shared by Dr Muhammad Sabir Memon, the executive director of CHK’s Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Institute of Trauma.

Five of those wounded had “minor injuries”, Dr Memon told Dawn.com.

Today’s incident comes days after a portion of a building collapsed in the city’s Kharadar area. However, no casualties or injuries were reported.

The Public Account Committee of the Sindh Assembly had directed the provincial government in December to take urgent steps to evacuate over 570 buildings declared “dangerous” by authorities across Karachi.

Rescue efforts were underway at the building situated on Fida Hussain Shaikha Road in Lyari’s Baghdadi neighbourhood, according to a statement from the Baghdadi police.

The eldest casualties were Fatima Babu and Hoor Bai, both aged 55 years, according to the hospital list. The other three deceased were identified as 21-year-old Prantic Arsi, 32-year-old Prem and 35-year-old Waseem Babu.

The injured were listed as 17-year-old Kishna Jumna Das, 25-year-old Rashid Aziz, 29-year-old Mujeeb Ali, 30-year-old Santia Chaitan and Chanda Jumma Lal, 45-year-old Ghulam Hussain, and 50-year-old Yousaf Subhan.

Saad Edhi of the Edhi Foundation told AFP that there could be “at least eight to 10 more people still trapped”, describing it as a “worn-out building”.

Police official Arif Aziz told AFP that up to 100 people had been living in the building.

Sindh’s Rescue 1122, in a statement, said its Urban Search and Rescue team, along with an ambulance and a disaster-response vehicle, had been dispatched to the building’s location “right after it was alerted about the incident”.

The Baghdadi police’s statement also said police and rescue teams were immediately sent to the site as several people were reported to be trapped under the rubble.

“Relief and rescue work is ongoing,” said Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab on X.

In April, a 10-year-old girl died when a three-storey building in Bhains Colony suddenly collapsed, while a man and a woman were pulled alive from the debris.

Roof and building collapses are common across Pakistan, mainly because of poor safety standards and the use of shoddy construction materials.

But Karachi, home to more than 20m, is especially notorious for poor construction, illegal extensions, ageing infrastructure, overcrowding and lax enforcement of building regulations.

Sindh CM seeks report

Taking notice of the incident, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah directed that rescue teams should immediately rescue those trapped under the rubble, while immediate medical assistance should be provided to the injured.

“This is an unfortunate incident; concerned authorities should submit an immediate report,” CM Murad was quoted as saying in a statement by his spokesperson Abdul Rashid Channa.

The statement noted that the chief minister was informed that five wounded people have been rescued from the rubble and rescue operations were still ongoing.

CM Murad also sought details of dilapidated buildings in Karachi from the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA).

“Dangerous buildings should be identified immediately and practical steps should be taken to protect citizens,” CM Murad said. “Negligence will not be tolerated; protection of human lives is the top priority.”

Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori expressed his grief over the incident and ordered rescue authorities to conduct “immediate, effective, and coordinated relief operations”.

In a statement, he directed that all available resources be employed to safely rescue those trapped under the rubble, and that “every possible facility” be provided to the affected families.

“Any kind of neglect or carelessness will be intolerable,” Tessori warned.

Sindh Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani also took notice of the incident and ordered the top officials of the relevant authorities, including the SBCA, to reach the site of the incident to monitor the rescue efforts.

“A report on the causes of the building collapse and all its reasons should be submitted immediately,” he said in a statement issued by his media consultant, Zubair Memon.

“All obstacles around the building should be removed to speed up the rescue operation,” Ghani added.

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This is a developing story that is being updated as the situation evolves. Initial reports in the media can sometimes be inaccurate. We will strive to ensure timeliness and accuracy by relying on credible sources, such as concerned, qualified authorities and our staff reporters.

Additional input from AFP

QUETTA  –  The 7th Muharram procession ended peacefully in the provincial capital Quetta on Thursday.

The procession took out from Imambargah Kalan Prince Road which was lead by Ashiq Hussain of Balochistan Shia Conference.

The procession included 7 mourning groups and passed through traditional routes such as Prince Road, Art School Road, Archer Road, Liaquat Bazaar and reached Imambargah Nasir-ul-Aza and ended peacefully.

Strict security arrangements were made on routes of the procession in the Quetta.

Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps (FC), Police, Balochistan Constabulary personnel were deployed for security.

A day before the procession, the security forces sealed the shops, markets, plazas and plazas coming along the route in the presence of representatives of the Anjuman-e-Tajran Balochistan.

PESHAWAR  –  In line with the special directives of Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a delegation of provincial ministers and members provincial assembly  paid a visit to Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), on Thursday to inquire after those injured in the recent Bajaur blast.

The visiting delegation included Minister for Food Zahir Shah Toru, Minister for Agriculture Sajjad Barkawal, Advisor to the Chief Minister on Health Ehtesham Ali Khan Advocate, MPA Naeem Khan, Dr. Israr, Dr. Hameed, and Ali Shah Khan.

The officials visited various wards, inquired about the health and well-being of the injured, and conveyed their prayers and best wishes for their speedy recovery.

During the visit, the ministers instructed the hospital administration to ensure provision of the best possible medical care and support to all victims without any delay or negligence.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Food Zahir Shah Toru condemned the cowardly act of terrorism, stating: “The terrorists will never succeed in their nefarious and inhumane objectives. We have made sacrifices for peace in the past and will continue to do so whenever required.”

The ministers reiterated the government’s commitment to maintaining peace and security in the province and expressed solidarity with the affected families.

PESHAWAR: Peshawar High Court on Thursday directed an inquiry committee, probing recent multiple deaths due to flooding in Swat, to submit report after its finalisation.

A bench consisting of PHC Chief Justice Syed Mohammad Attique Shah and Justice Mohammad Faheem Wali ordered the government to conduct an impartial and across the board operation for removing encroachments along the Swat River.

The bench was informed by head of three-member inquiry committee Khayyam Hassan Khan that they had visited Swat and had been probing the incident for the last four days.

He said that they had observed lapses on part of some of individuals and departments during flash floods in Swat and would highlight it in the report.

Committee head says he will highlight negligence by some individuals and depts

The bench was hearing two petitions related to the Swat incident of June 27, during which 13 persons stuck in gushing floodwater were killed near Fizzagut, Swat.

One of the petitions is filed by a lawyer Naeem Ahmad Khattak, seeking directives of court for respondents including government to take effective measures and remove obstacles/encroachments throughout KP near riverbeds.

Another petition is filed by a citizen, Amir Alam, for ordering a judicial inquiry into the ‘circumstances’ that led to deaths of several people during the floods in Swat as well as a probe into the alleged misuse of Rescue 1122 vehicles by the provincial government for ‘political’ purposes.

The petitioner has sought directives for law enforcement agencies and accountability authorities to look into alleged misuse of Rescue 1122 vehicles and resources by the provincial executive for political purposes and proceed strictly in accordance with law if cognisable offences were committed.

Advocates Babar Khan Yousafzai and Nasir Khan appeared for the petitioners, whereas KP Advocate General Shah Faisal Uthmankhel appeared for the government.

The chairman of the inquiry committee, Khayyam Hassan, also turned up along with some of divisional commissioners.

When the bench inquired who was the inquiry officer probing the incident, Mr Khayyam, the chairman of Provincial Inspection Team, informed the bench that provincial government had constituted the inquiry committee under his chairmanship.

He stated that the other two members of the committee were the inspector general of prisons, Mohammad Usman, and the director (admin) of excise and taxation department, Sheharyar Qamar. He said that according to the notification, the committee had to complete its probe within seven days.

Mr Khayyam said that according to terms of reference of the committee, they had to inquire into multiple aspects of the incident. He said that they were assigned to conduct thorough and impartial investigation into the flash flood incident, which had resulted into loss of precious lives.

He said that that they would assess and identify lapses or negligence on part of government functionaries and tourists. He said that they would also identify the individuals or institutions involved in any lapse regarding compliance of safety and fix responsibilities.

He said that they would put forward recommendations in order to avoid such tragic incidents in future and ensure strict adherence to safety measures.

Shah Faisal Uthmankhel informed the bench that government and administration in Swat had started an anti-encroachments drive along the Swat River that was facing certain hurdles.

The PHC chief justice observed that the court was aware that certain quarters would be exerting pressure in the drive. The bench directed him to continue with the operation without extending favour to any person.

The petitioners’ lawyers stated that government was having two helicopters and if it intended it could have saved lives of the deceased persons. The petitioners have also requested the court to issue directives for the respondents to cancel all mining activities, carried out through auction or otherwise, in the Swat River.

They said that the failure of Rescue 1122 and provincial authorities to respond timely and effectively caused unnecessary and avoidable loss of lives.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2025