District authorities in Hyderabad halted the destruction of a 90-year-old historic property after crews partially tore down the structure, which had been proposed for heritage safeguarding.
City Assistant Commissioner Noor Hussain stepped in to halt the activity near Faujdari Road, where the edifice was built in 1936.
Heritage protection was proposed for the property by the Sindh Culture Department in February 2025 because of its architectural value, though the proper technical committee has not yet finalized its official heritage designation.
Proponents of safeguarding the site highlighted its unique architectural traits, such as protruding balconies featuring carved stone and expansive wooden-paneled windows, while also noting that safety concerns meant the building needed repairs.
Assistant Commissioner Hussain delivered notices to people claiming ownership of the land following the event, ordering them to present ownership papers, permits, and related authorizations within three days.
An unauthorized destruction notice was also sent by the Antiquities and Archaeology wing of the Culture Department, commanding the owner of the property to report to the department on November 2.
According to the department, the teardown breached Section 10(i) of the Sindh Cultural Heritage (Preservation) Act, 1994, because workers proceeded without securing advance authorization.
Officials instructed the owner to halt all operations at the location immediately or face legal action.
The Sindh Building Control Authority has also received a request to reject any future applications for destruction or building work until the Technical Committee on Sindh Cultural Heritage reaches a final conclusion regarding the property classification.
