CDA ordered to assess quake damage to capital buildings

Islamabad
Given the initial reports compiled by the relevant authorities, the government has decided to carry out inspection of all important buildings to assess any damage to their structures due to October 28 earthquake including President House, Prime Minister House, Parliament House and Cabinet Division, sources told The News here on Saturday.
“The government has directed Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Pakistan Public Works Department (Pak-PWD) to engage teams of structural engineers to review the physical strength of the structures of the government buildings in the capital city after October 28 earthquake,” the sources said.
The sources said CDA would initially constitute teams for inspection of President House, Parliament House and Cabinet Division while Pak-PWD would engage a structural firm to revisit structure of Prime Minister House.
A senior official said the government has directed owners of private high-rise buildings and housing societies to hire CDA-designated structural engineers to inspect their existing structures and submit fitness certificates otherwise they would not be allowed to continue their work.
It is pertinent to mention here that CDA introduced building codes after devastating October 8, 2005 earthquake but unfortunately it miserably failed to ensure its implementation in the city that has become a hub of the construction activities.
A number of high-rise buildings have developed cracks in their structures especially in Blue Area, F-10, F-11, E-11 and G-11. Almost
all the storeys of Saudi-
Pak Tower and other build-
ings were closed when
cracks appeared in their structures after the recent earthquake.
When contacted, the CDA spokesman said they would engage a well reputed structural firm to inspect important government buildings because the recent earthquake may have caused damage to their structures.
“Initially a survey would be conducted to evaluate the fitness of the structures of President House, Parliament House and other buildings but the process would continue unless vetting of all the government buildings is completed by the structural engineers,” he said.
The CDA chairman himself visited various sectors and observed the fitness of the buildings, he said adding, “The government has directed CDA to ensure completion of inspection of structures of the buildings in the federal capital at the earliest.”