KARACHI: A protected heritage building in Clifton’s Bath Island area was illegally demolished during the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays, prompting an official inquiry ordered by Sindh’s Chief Secretary Khalid Haider Shah. The building, known as Kharis House, was demolished despite being listed by the Sindh Antiquities Department as a heritage site.
According to Antiquities Department Director General Abdul Fattah Sheikh, the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) approved the demolition last October without required consultation or clearance. Demolition began on March 28 and was nearly complete by the next day, reportedly timed to avoid oversight during public holidays.
Sheikh stated that legal protocol was ignored, as the law mandates clearance from both the Technical and Advisory Committees and explicit permission from the Antiquities Department before demolishing any heritage site. A formal letter has been sent to SBCA DG Ishaq Khuhro demanding an internal investigation.
Chief Secretary Shah has directed the Karachi Commissioner to probe who authorized the demolition in violation of heritage protection laws. Attempts to reach SBCA officials for comment were unsuccessful.
Shah stressed the importance of preserving cultural heritage and warned of strict consequences for negligence. He also instructed the Culture Department to begin mapping all heritage sites in Karachi and strengthen monitoring to prevent future violations.
The incident has reignited concerns about weak enforcement of heritage protection laws in the city, where historic structures are often at risk due to commercial pressures. The Antiquities Department is now pushing for stronger safeguards to preserve Karachi’s architectural legacy.
