CDA to conduct survey of high-rise buildings

Islamabad
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) would carry out a survey of all high-rise buildings in Islamabad with the assistance of reputed structure and design experts and firms to revisit the existing building code in the aftermath of the Monday’s earthquake.
This was stated by CDA Chairman Maroof Afzal during his visit to different areas of the capital to inspect high-rise buildings in Blue Area, F-10, F-11 and G-11 on Tuesday. He was accompanied by CDA Member Administration and Estate Amer Ali Ahmed and a technical team consisting of Director General (Design), Director (Building Control) and other concerned officers of planning and engineering wings.
During his visit, CDA Chairman Maroof Afzal met the management of the high-rise buildings, residents of the residential apartments and listened to their complaints. Directions were passed on the spot for immediate redressal of the issues confronting the residents of the apartment buildings.
He said that the Monday’s earthquake was unprecedented and a warning to take measures for overcoming shortcomings, if any, in building code and preparedness for the emergency situation.
He said that the CDA regularly carries out emergency preparedness drills and building audits of different structures and suggests measures for overcoming the defects and shortcomings in case of any emergency.
He said that CDA’s Emergency and Disasters Management constituted different teams after the earthquake to inspect the high-rise buildings and find out the shortcomings in the emergency equipments installed in the buildings as well as the entry and exit points during the emergency situation. CDA, after seeking the input of structure engineers/firms would study the data to revise the building codes in light of recommendations by the structure assessment consultants. He said that CDA is fully cognizant of the situation and would take all possible measures to cope with any emergency situation. A meeting in this regard would be held to review the situation and totality wherein input of all stakeholders would be sought.