Lahore Basant unsafe buildings count reaches 271
Authorities have declared 271 buildings unsafe in Lahore’s Walled City after inspecting about 10,000 structures across five wards ahead of Basant 2027.
The survey is still under way. Inspections are continuing in the remaining four wards of the old city, which holds about 22,000 buildings across nine wards in total. The final count of unsafe buildings will therefore rise as the remaining wards are checked.
Ward-by-ward breakdown
Lohari Gate accounts for the highest number of unsafe buildings so far, followed by Taxali Gate.
| Ward | Unsafe buildings |
|---|---|
| Lohari Gate | 95 |
| Taxali Gate | 57 |
| Akbari Gate and Delhi Gate | 52 |
| Bhati Gate | 43 |
| Yakki Gate | 24 |
| Total so far | 271 |
Lohari Gate alone accounts for more than a third of the unsafe buildings found to date. The five wards checked so far cover only part of the old city, so these figures describe progress, not a final result.
Why the survey is happening now
The survey aims to identify dangerous structures so that authorities can take necessary safety measures to protect residents and prevent accidents before the festival.
Basant is a kite festival that draws large crowds into the old city’s streets and onto its rooftops. Old, weak structures in crowded lanes carry a clear risk when crowds gather, which is why the inspection drive is timed ahead of the festival rather than after it.
The survey also lands on a day when building safety is already in the news. Earlier on Tuesday, the roof of an under-construction plaza collapsed near Multan’s Northern Bypass, killing one person and injuring several others, according to Rescue 1122. That incident is separate from the Lahore survey, but it underlines the same point: weak structures fail without warning, and the time to find them is before crowds gather, not after.
What happens next
Two things remain open. The first is the result for the remaining four wards. With about 12,000 buildings still to be inspected out of the old city’s roughly 22,000, the final unsafe count could be substantially higher than 271.
The second is what action follows. Officials have said the survey aims to identify dangerous structures so that necessary safety measures can be taken. Reports so far have not spelled out which measures will apply to which buildings, whether that means repairs, evacuation, or restrictions on use during the festival.
Residents of the affected wards will want those answers soon. Basant 2027 is months away, but repair or safety work on old buildings takes time, and the festival calendar will not wait for it.
For now, the confirmed picture is clear on the numbers and open on the response. The survey has found 271 unsafe buildings in five wards, and four wards are still to come.
How many buildings have been declared unsafe in Lahore’s Walled City?
271 buildings have been declared unsafe so far, after about 10,000 structures were inspected across five wards.
Which ward has the most unsafe buildings?
Lohari Gate, with 95 unsafe buildings, followed by Taxali Gate with 57.
Is the survey complete?
No. The Walled City has about 22,000 buildings across nine wards, and inspections are continuing in the remaining four wards.
Why is the survey being done before Basant 2027?
The survey aims to identify dangerous structures so authorities can take safety measures to protect residents and prevent accidents before the festival.
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Sources and prior coverage
- ProPakistani, “Hundreds of Buildings Declared Unsafe Ahead of Lahore Basant 2027” (27 October 2026): https://propakistani.pk/?p=1107109
