News. He said the Authority has launched a massive survey in the capital to ascertain the earthquake-related damages to high-rise buildings and four damaged buildings had been identified by the officials till Monday evening.
“The Authority will not spare anyone found involved in the construction of unsafe and illegal buildings and strict action will be taken against violators regardless of their political affiliation,” said the spokesman.
When asked why the Authority did not implement building safety laws after the 2005 earthquake, he said what has been done in past is done but from now on the Authority will ensure strict enforcement of safety rules. He said new mega malls in Islamabad will also be directed to introduce earthquake evacuation plans.
However, the residents of E-11 said the Authority had been paying no heed to their complaints regarding construction of illegal high-rise buildings in the area.
“We had written letters to chairman CDA and held meetings with him to inform him about the illegal dangerous activity but no action was taken against the illegal high-rise,” said Major (R) Muhammad Raza who is heading a 400-strong community group of E-11 residents.
He said the earthquake has exposed the low quality of the illegal buildings.A resident of one of the sealed buildings, Mrs Babar said the police sealed the illegal building after the Monday’s earthquake but the residents are left to spend the night on the road.
“Why the authorities allowed construction of such dangerous building for residential purpose,” she asked. Mrs Babar said around 40 families were living in one building alone.
When contacted by The News, the NDMA spokesperson said the Authority has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) for fire safety provisions in building codes.
However, she said the seismic safety issue is still in the progress but PEC is looking into the matter.In 2007, the PEC had introduced seismic safety provisions in building codes but the implementation of the code is yet to be seen in major cities of Pakistan.
Under the amendment in the Construction and Operation of Engineering Works By-laws, 1987, three new by-laws were added.“The provisions of the Building Code of Pakistan (Seismic Provisions-2007) shall apply for engineering design of buildings, like structures and related components,” says the amendment, adding that construction of buildings in violation of the building code shall be considered as violation of professional engineering work as specified under clause (XXV) of Section 2 of the Act.