LAHORE:
In response to the growing risk of structural failures during the monsoon season, and after the recent collapses of fatal construction in Sindh who claimed dozens of lives, the authors in Punjab have launched a comprehensive survey to identify and ensure dangerous buildings within the historic walled city of Lahore.
The Walled City of Lahore (WCLA) authority launched the effort as part of its annual monsoon campaign, but this year’s operation involves greater urgency. Persistent rains, together with aging infrastructure and urban invasions, have increased the risk of structural failure throughout the provincial capital. To a parallel measure, Lahore’s administration recently sealed almost two dozen insecure buildings throughout the city due to stability concerns.
Directed by the general director of the WCLA, Maleeha Rashid, the inspection teams of the authority have begun detailed evaluations of the buildings in Androon Lahore, where many properties, some that date from centuries, now show signs of severe negligence, unauthorized alterations and structural fatigue.
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“The cultural heritage of Androon Lahore is not just a reflection of our past, it is a living legacy that defines our national identity,” Rashid said in a statement. “Preserving it is not simply a responsibility, but a commitment to future generations.”
To conduct the survey, WCLA is using a hybrid approach that combines physical inspections in the soil with digital mapping tools. This allows officials to efficiently evaluate structural vulnerabilities and flag buildings with immediate collapse risk. Timely identification, according to authorities, is key to avoiding preventable damage and loss of lives.
In support of the initiative, WCLA has also established a monitoring committee to enforce compliance with heritage and construction regulations. The team, the Compression Depression, Nosheen Zaidi, the expert in resettlement Ali Islam Gill and the deputy director Ahmad Usman Diwan, has had the task of taking energetic measures against illegal construction, unauthorized demolitions, excavations of non -approved basements and other violations within the protected areas.
Once dangerous structures are identified, the authority plans to follow specific strategies of the site, which extend from specific rehabilitation and restoration to, when necessary, the controlled demolition. The survey results will serve as a basis for these interventions and future planning.
According to 2024 WCLA figures, it was identified that almost 1,300 buildings in the walled city needed significant reparation, with 400 listings for demolition and at least 20 classified as extremely dangerous. Despite the notices and warnings, many of these private property buildings remain occupied due to the lack of resources, relocation options or public awareness.
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The threat extends beyond the limits of the walled city. A recent survey at the district level highlighted 96 buildings dangerously in ruins throughout Lahore, with the Ganj Bakhsh Zone data representing more than 42 of them. High density areas such as Fleming Road, Ravi Road, Mochi Gate and Garhi Shau are particularly at risk. In some cases, only partial demolitions have occurred, leaving unstable portions still inhabited.
While the authorities continue to issue evacuation notices, many residents remain in place, citing financial limitations and the absence of formal resettlement programs. Officials warn that with the forecast of rain greater than the average for the current season, delays in action could be catastrophic.
Growing risks reinforce the importance of continuous WCLA efforts, not only as a conservation initiative, but as a critical public security operation. Experts warn that without the support of the government and the urgent and coordinated timely restoration, Lahore faces the double threat of human tragedy and irreversible cultural loss.
