By Ali Sohaib | Emergency Response & Disaster Risk Specialist
On 4 July 2025, a residential structure known as Fotan Mansion, a five-storey building located in the densely populated area of Lyari, Karachi, collapsed, resulting in the tragic loss of life and widespread public outcry. At least 27 people were confirmed dead, while dozens were injured, trapped, or displaced. This disaster has once again highlighted the critical state of urban safety, informal housing, and regulatory failure in Pakistan’s largest metropolitan city.
Background: A City Built on Fragile Foundations
Karachi is Pakistan’s economic heart, yet much of its housing consists of old, multi-storey buildings, many constructed decades ago without modern engineering or safety compliance. Lyari, one of the city’s oldest settlements, is densely packed with narrow lanes, aging structures, and limited emergency access routes.
Initial reports suggest that Fotan Mansion had developed visible cracks weeks before the collapse. Local residents had voiced fears over the structural integrity, but no evacuation orders were enforced. Unconfirmed testimonies indicate that portions of the building were renovated without official inspection, a common practice in informal urban zones.
The Incident: Moments of Chaos
Eyewitnesses recall hearing a deep rumble before the building gave way. Within seconds, concrete, iron, and dust filled the air. Families were buried under debris. Emergency teams, including Karachi Municipal authorities, Edhi, and Chhipa volunteers, reached the site; however, rescue operations were slowed by the narrow streets and a lack of access to heavy machinery.
Rescue workers manually removed rubble using basic tools, while anguished relatives stood by, hoping for signs of life. Several women and children were among the casualties.
Key Factors Under Investigation
| Structural Weakness | Aging foundation, visible cracks ignored |
| Unauthorized Modifications | Improvised repairs without engineering approval |
| Regulatory Oversight Failure | No recent safety inspections conducted |
| Overcrowding | Multiple families living in single units |
Authorities have launched an inquiry into building permits, ownership responsibility, and municipal lapses.
Human Impact: Beyond the Rubble
This tragedy is not limited to numbers. Families lost primary breadwinners, children became orphans, and women, who often manage households, now face displacement without compensation. In Lyari’s close-knit community, homes are more than structures; they are generational lifelines.
Trauma and psychological grief now linger among survivors who watched their homes crumble in seconds. Many have taken shelter with relatives or in temporary camps, awaiting official relief.
Expert Voices and Accountability
Urban safety experts argue that Karachi’s building governance urgently requires reform. Without periodic inspection, strict licensing, and emergency preparedness, such collapses will continue.
As Ali Sohaib, a professional Rescuer and founder focused on disaster risk awareness, often emphasizes:
“Disasters are not only natural; they are consequences of neglect. When structures fall, it is trust that collapses first.”
His perspective reflects a growing demand to prioritise prevention over reaction in urban management.
Lessons and the Way Forward
| Mandatory Structural Audits | Identify high-risk buildings |
| Legal Accountability for Unsafe Housing | Enforce penalties on negligent builders |
| Emergency Response Improvement | Faster machinery access in dense areas |
| Community Disaster Preparedness | Train residents on evacuation protocols |
Karachi’s memory holds many similar incidents: the 2020 Gulbahar collapseand the 2012 Kharadar building disaster. Yet, each time, promises fade as rubble is cleared.
A Call for Sustainable Urban Reform
The Fotan Mansion collapse is more than a local tragedy, it is a national warning. Unless urban infrastructure, enforcement laws, and citizen safety are placed at the forefront of development, Karachi will remain vulnerable to preventable catastrophes.
Every life lost under a collapsed building demands justice and reform. Mourning must lead to mechanism, not headlines.