Sindh building authority chief suspended as 27 dead in Karachi building collapse

Sindh building authority chief suspended as 27 dead in Karachi building collapse
Rescue workers use a search cam to look for survivors as they go through the rubble of a five-storey residential building, which collapsed in Karachi, Pakistan July 4, 2025. (Reuters)
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Sindh building authority chief suspended as 27 dead in Karachi building collapse

Sindh building authority chief suspended as 27 dead in Karachi building collapse
  • Provincial chief minister orders FIR and promises ‘ruthless action’ against officials
  • Building had been declared unsafe but residents deny receiving eviction notices

ISLAMABAD: The government of Pakistan’s southern province of Sindh said on Monday the director general of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) had been suspended after a residential building collapsed in the provincial capital of Karachi last week, killing 27 people.

The suspension comes as part of a broader crackdown ordered by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, who has also directed the registration of a police case (FIR) and promised “ruthless action” against those responsible for the collapse.

The five-story apartment block in the neighborhood of Lyari crumbled on Friday morning, with residents reporting ominous cracking sounds moments before it came down. Rescue operations concluded on Sunday after three days of digging through debris.

Authorities had previously said the building had been declared unsafe, and eviction notices were issued between 2022 and 2024. However, some landlords and residents told media they had never received any such notices.

“The chief minister today suspended the DG Sindh Building Control Authority,” Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said at a press briefing on Monday, referring to Muhammad Ishaque Khuhro who was appointed in February this year.

“Whichever building control authority personnel were involved in this, who had direct responsibility, they were suspended by the local government minister on the first day.”

Memon added that the chief minister had ordered the home minister to immediately register an FIR, adding: “Whoever is involved in this, strict action should be taken.”

He said a fact-finding report had been ordered and must be submitted within two days. An initial committee had already been formed, but its scope had now been expanded to include the Karachi commissioner and other senior officials.

“As soon as the committee submits its report, ruthless action will be taken,” Memon said.

Building collapses are common in Pakistan due to poor construction practices, aging infrastructure and lax enforcement of regulations. Karachi, a city of more than 20 million, is especially vulnerable due to unregulated urban sprawl and widespread illegal construction.


Pakistan launches first-ever AI customs system to boost transparency, efficiency

Pakistan launches first-ever AI customs system to boost transparency, efficiency
Updated 17 min 24 sec ago

Pakistan launches first-ever AI customs system to boost transparency, efficiency

Pakistan launches first-ever AI customs system to boost transparency, efficiency
  • FBR says new risk management system showed over 92% improved performance in initial testing
  • System uses AI, bots and machine learning to automate customs and reduce human interference

ISLAMABAD: In a first, Pakistan has launched an artificial intelligence-based customs clearance and risk management system, aiming to improve transparency, reduce human intervention and make cross-border trade more efficient, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement on Monday.

Developed by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the new system uses AI, bots, and machine learning to automate the classification and valuation of imported and exported goods. Officials say this will reduce delays, streamline tax assessment and minimize manual interference by customs personnel.

“The new risk management system will bring transparency to the system, reduce human intervention to a minimum and facilitate businesspersons,” according to a statement from PM Shehbaz Sharif’s office after he chaired a high-level meeting on the subject. 

“With the launch of the new system, there will be an immediate and effective estimation of the classification and cost of goods, resulting in time savings.”

During initial testing, authorities recorded more than 92% improved performance and an 83% increase in identified goods declarations for tax collection. The FBR also reported a one-and-a-half-times increase in green channel clearances compared to previous manual processes.

Sharif described FBR reform as one of the government’s top priorities and emphasized the importance of integrating and sustaining the new platform.

“By automating the tax system, we are making it more transparent and effective,” the PM said, adding that the AI-powered system would enable “ease of doing business and make things easier for taxpayers.”

“Due to reduced human intervention, the system will be more efficient and will save time and money,” he added.

During the meeting, officials also briefed Sharif on ongoing efforts to increase tax collection in the manufacturing sector using video analytics. The system, they said, would allow automated and transparent tax assessment and had shown 98% efficiency in early-stage testing. No timeline for full rollout was given in the statement.

Pakistan’s current customs clearance system has long been criticized for its heavy reliance on manual processes, which leave it vulnerable to delays, inefficiencies and corruption. Importers frequently face inconsistent valuation of goods, excessive documentation requirements, and prolonged clearance times at ports, all of which contribute to higher costs of doing business.

The lack of automation and poor risk profiling mechanisms have also led to overburdened inspection processes, creating bottlenecks in trade and undermining investor confidence.


Pakistan stock market breaches 133,000 points barrier as investors turn to equities

Pakistan stock market breaches 133,000 points barrier as investors turn to equities
Updated 07 July 2025

Pakistan stock market breaches 133,000 points barrier as investors turn to equities

Pakistan stock market breaches 133,000 points barrier as investors turn to equities
  • Benchmark KSE-100 Index rises by 1,907.53 points or 1.45 percent to reach 133,856.79 points during intraday trading
  • Stock market responding to Pakistan’s improving macroeconomic indicators, easing regional tensions, says analyst

KARACHI: The benchmark KSE-100 crossed the 133,000 points barrier during intra-day trading on Monday to hit a record high, according to data shared by the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), with a financial analyst attributing the rally to investors shifting from fixed income funds toward equities, and the country’s improving macroeconomic conditions. 

The benchmark KSE-100 index rose by 1,907.53 points or 1.45 percent to reach 133,856.59 points at 12:31 p.m. from the previous day’s close of 131,949.06 points, according to the PSX website. 

Pakistan’s state broadcaster said the stock market’s upward trend reflects the business community’s growing confidence in the government’s economic policies.

“The top-most factor contributing to market rally is conversion of fixed income funds to equities,” Shankar Talreja, head of research at Karachi-based brokerage company Topline Securities, told Arab News. 

“Stocks generating over nine percent of the dividend yield have contributed most to the index rally,” he continued, “This is because this dividend yield matches the fixed income rate and any capital gain on these stocks would be cherry on the top.”

He noted that the market has been responding to improving macroeconomic indicators, adding that the State Bank of Pakistan’s reserves climbed to $14.5 billion at the end of June.

“The regional and geopolitical issues also subsided last month which has further given confidence to local investors,” Talreja added, referring to the Pakistan-India, Iran-Israel armed conflicts.

“We expect the index to touch 160,000 by June 2026.”

The development comes after the PSX breached the 130,000 points barrier last week to close at an all-time high, with experts attributing the surge to low inflation and surging crude oil prices. 

Pakistan’s stocks have surged as Islamabad moves to consolidate its financial recovery after years of economic turbulence. In recent years, the country has implemented tough structural reforms under International Monetary Fund loan programs aimed at reducing fiscal deficits and restoring investor confidence.


Pakistan building collapse site cleared with 27 dead

Pakistan building collapse site cleared with 27 dead
Updated 07 July 2025

Pakistan building collapse site cleared with 27 dead

Pakistan building collapse site cleared with 27 dead
  • Apartment block in Karachi’s impoverished Lyari neighborhood collapsed on Friday morning 
  • Authorities say building was declared unsafe, eviction notices sent to occupants between 2022, 2024

KARACHI: Pakistan rescuers have concluded a three day-long rescue operation, recovering 27 bodies from a building that collapsed in the mega port city of Karachi, officials said on Monday.

Residents reported hearing cracking sounds shortly before the apartment block crumbled around 10:00 am on Friday in Karachi’s impoverished Lyari neighborhood, which was once plagued by gang violence and considered one of the most dangerous areas in Pakistan.

“All the bodies trapped under the debris have been recovered, so the search operation has been called off,” the top government official in the district, Javed Nabi Khoso, told AFP.

“The total death toll stands at 27 people.”

Authorities said the building had been declared unsafe and eviction notices were sent to occupants between 2022 and 2024, but landlords and some residents told AFP they had not received them.

Twenty of the victims were Hindus, according to Sundeep Maheshewari, an activist in the minority community.

“Most of the families are very poor,” he told AFP.

Government official Khoso said that five out of more than 50 more dangerous buildings in his district have been evacuated since Saturday.

“The operation has been initiated and will continue until all such buildings are evacuated,” he said.

Roof and building collapses are common across Pakistan, mainly because of poor safety standards and shoddy construction materials in the South Asian country of more than 240 million people.

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


Pakistan’s seafood exports jump 20.5 percent in FY25, highlighting Arabian Sea potential

Pakistan’s seafood exports jump 20.5 percent in FY25, highlighting Arabian Sea potential
Updated 07 July 2025

Pakistan’s seafood exports jump 20.5 percent in FY25, highlighting Arabian Sea potential

Pakistan’s seafood exports jump 20.5 percent in FY25, highlighting Arabian Sea potential
  • China top list of Pakistani seafood importers with 99,238 metric tons, UAE, and Indonesia key markets
  • Pakistan’s seafood export value to European Union surged by 44.4 percent to $13 million, says maritime affairs ministry

KARACHI: Pakistan’s seafood exports rose by 20.5 percent during the last fiscal year, with China and Thailand among the largest buyers worldwide, the maritime affairs ministry said on Monday, highlighting the Arabian Sea’s potential to boost the country’s exports. 

Pakistan has the potential to become a major exporter of seafood as it possesses a coastline of more than 1,000 kilometers along the Arabian Sea and is also home to several species such as shrimp, tuna, mackerel and crab. 

Pakistan’s maritime affairs ministry released its annual report on seafood exports’ progress for the fiscal year 2024-25 on Monday, attributing the surge to the government’s policies and regulations. 

“Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announced that Pakistan’s seafood exports reached a remarkable $489.2 million in the fiscal year 2024–25, marking a 20.5 percent increase from the previous year’s $406 million,” the maritime affairs ministry said. 

The report said that fish meal led the seafood exports surge with 79,090 metric tons valued at $160 million, followed by frozen fish ($103.11 million), shrimps ($61.4 million), crabs ($29.68 million) and mackerels ($23 million). Other exported species included sole, jellyfish, skates and eels.

China retained its position as the top importer of Pakistani seafood, buying over 99,238 metric tons worth $186 million while Thailand followed as the second-largest destination, importing seafood valued at $105.7 million.

“Other key markets included the UAE, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, , Vietnam, and Indonesia— reflecting Pakistan’s wide and diversified global outreach,” the report said. 

He said exploring new international markets and improving Pakistan’s seafood export infrastructure are among the government’s top priorities, adding that modern regulations, monitoring and certification systems boosted exports.

“We are strengthening ties with the private sector to promote exports,” Chaudhry said. “Pakistan’s seafood products are becoming increasingly attractive to international buyers.”

The report also said Pakistan’s seafood export value to the European Union surged by 44.4 percent to $13 million. Chaudhry noted that this shift points to Pakistan’s strategic focus on premium, high-value seafood products tailored to EU preferences where quality and sustainability increasingly influence demand.

“The fiscal year 2024–25 stands as a landmark for Pakistan’s fisheries industry, with solid achievements in both quantity and value,” it said. “These gains not only strengthen the national economy but also underline Pakistan’s readiness to meet evolving global demands through sustainable and quality-driven practices.”

The development takes place amid the government’s announcement that it is pursuing sustainable economic growth driven by exports and long-term fiscal reforms. Pakistan has been trying to escape a prolonged economic crisis that has drained its resources and triggered a balance of payments crisis for the country. 


Toll hits 72 in under two weeks as monsoon rains, flash floods inundate Pakistan

Toll hits 72 in under two weeks as monsoon rains, flash floods inundate Pakistan
Updated 07 July 2025

Toll hits 72 in under two weeks as monsoon rains, flash floods inundate Pakistan

Toll hits 72 in under two weeks as monsoon rains, flash floods inundate Pakistan
  • Pakistan’s disaster management authority warns of more heavy rains, potential floods till July 10
  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reports highest number of deaths, 28, Punjab 22, Sindh 15 and Balochistan seven

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has warned of more downpours and flash floods across the country until July 10, with heavy rains killing at least 72 and injuring 130 in less than two weeks. 

In a press release issued on Sunday, the NDMA warned that the ongoing monsoon season is likely to trigger heavy rains and potential flooding in several parts until July 10. It said that flooding and increased water levels are expected in streams and rivers across Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan regions.

“Rivers including Chenab, Jhelum, Indus, Kabul, and Hunza may experience surges, with minor flooding expected at Marala and Qadirabad,” the NDMA report said. 

As per the disaster management authority’s latest situation report, at least 72 people have been killed and 130 injured across the country due to rain-related incidents since June 26. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has reported the highest number of deaths, 28, while 22 people have been killed in Punjab, 15 in Sindh and seven in Balochistan. 

Punjab reported 66 people injured from rain-related incidents, Sindh 34, KP 23, Azad Kashmir four and Balochistan three since June 26. The report said at least 161 houses had been damaged so far while 91 livestock had perished since June 26. 

The NDMA said 233 people were rescued in total, with the highest number of people rescued in KP, 115, Sindh 42, Punjab 31, Gilgit-Baltistan 25, Islamabad 15 and Balochistan five. 

Pakistan, home to over 240 million people, is consistently ranked among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. In 2022, record-breaking monsoon rains and glacier melt caused catastrophic floods that affected 33 million people and killed more than 1,700. The South Asian country has been the victim of irregular weather patterns recently that have ranged from heatwaves to droughts and torrential rains. 

Surging temperatures in the country’s mountainous north, especially in Gilgit-Baltistan, have accelerated glacier melt, compounding the risk of sudden floods and landslides in narrow valleys and near vulnerable glacial lakes.

The NDMA advises the public to stay indoors during thunderstorms, avoid unnecessary travel and keep children away from electricity poles and waterlogged areas.