Sindh Province

Karachi: [ReNews Pakistan]
A comprehensive fire safety audit carried out across Karachi has revealed significant shortcomings in compliance with fire safety regulations, exposing serious risks in hundreds of commercial and residential buildings across the city. The inspection found that less than half of the surveyed buildings substantially complied with mandatory fire safety standards, highlighting the urgent need for stronger enforcement and improved emergency preparedness.
The citywide audit was ordered by the Sindh government following the devastating Gul Plaza fire on M.A. Jinnah Road in January, which raised serious concerns over building safety and emergency response systems. Authorities inspected 783 commercial and residential buildings across Karachi’s seven districts, evaluating compliance with approved building plans, structural safety requirements, emergency exits, firefighting equipment and overall fire risk.
According to the consolidated audit report, 370 buildings, representing approximately 47% of those inspected, were found to be substantially compliant with fire safety regulations. Another 298 buildings were classified as partially compliant, while 115 buildings failed to meet basic safety requirements and were declared non-compliant.
The findings also revealed widespread violations of building regulations. As many as 408 buildings did not possess approved building layouts, while 455 structures had not been constructed according to their sanctioned plans. Inspectors further found that 416 buildings lacked proper emergency exits, significantly increasing evacuation risks during emergencies, and 310 buildings were operating without portable fire extinguishers.
Overall, 239 buildings were identified as high-risk structures due to multiple safety deficiencies.
District Central recorded the highest number of high-risk buildings, with 103 unsafe structures identified, followed by District South, where 65 buildings were classified as high risk. In contrast, Keamari demonstrated the strongest overall compliance with fire safety regulations, while Korangi recorded the highest number of substantially compliant buildings.
Officials noted that unauthorized alterations and deviations from approved building plans frequently block access routes, reduce evacuation capacity and eliminate essential fire safety features such as compartmentalisation, allowing fires to spread more rapidly during emergencies.
The audit has underscored the pressing need for stricter enforcement of building regulations, regular safety inspections and stronger coordination between civic authorities and emergency response agencies to improve public safety and reduce the risk of future fire-related disasters across Karachi.

Karachi | ReNews Pakistan
The World Bank is preparing a USD 150 million programme to modernise Sindh’s urban property tax system, with the objective of increasing property tax revenues, improving municipal financial management, and strengthening public service delivery across 45 local councils.
According to a World Bank project document, the proposed Sindh Property Revenues Enhancement Program is scheduled to undergo a technical review on August 31, 2026, and is expected to be presented to the World Bank’s Board for approval later this year.
The programme will be financed through the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) under the Program-for-Results (PforR) financing model. Under this approach, funding is linked to the achievement of specific performance targets, including improvements in property tax collection, financial management, and public expenditure systems.
A key component of the initiative is the introduction of a fully digitised property tax management system to modernise the administration of the Urban Immovable Property Tax (UIPT). The reforms will also focus on improving taxpayer compliance, strengthening tax administration, enhancing financial management practices within local governments, and introducing more transparent and efficient revenue collection mechanisms.
Beyond tax administration, the programme will provide support for priority urban infrastructure projects, institutional capacity building, and broader reforms in property tax and land administration systems across Karachi and other major cities in Sindh. These measures are intended to strengthen the financial capacity of local governments and improve the delivery of essential municipal services.
The World Bank noted that Pakistan’s property tax remains significantly underutilised. Current property tax revenues account for only 0.13 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a level considerably lower than that of many comparable low- and middle-income countries. The Bank believes that strengthening property taxation will provide local governments with a more sustainable source of revenue to finance infrastructure development, urban services, and long-term municipal improvements.
If approved, the programme is expected to become one of the most significant property tax reform initiatives undertaken in Sindh, supporting digital governance, improving fiscal sustainability, and helping local authorities generate stronger domestic revenues for future urban development.

Karachi | ReNews Pakistan Pakistan is set to receive approximately $2 billion in foreign investment from China, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Türkiye under a long-term plan to modernise and expand Port Qasim, one of the country's most strategically important seaports.