Karachi: Construction of quake-proof high-rises may be allowed

[Naveed Yaseen]

Friday, July 17, 2009
By Imtiaz Ali

Karachi

The Sindh government is considering amendments to building by-laws to allow the construction of earthquake-proof high-rise buildings in the city in view of demographic pressures and the lack of lands, sources privy to this development told The News.

Sources claimed that a decision to this effect was taken during President Asif Ali Zardari’s visit to the city on April 20, in which he had issued instructions for “vertical constructions”. Zardari had said that due to high cost and scarcity of land in Karachi, the construction of earthquake-proof high-rise buildings should be encouraged.

It was also proposed during the said meeting that Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan would jointly make efforts to expedite “necessary changes” in building control rules of Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA).

Subsequently, the directives were issued to District Coordination officer (DCO) Karachi, and head of the KBCA to go through this proposal and prepare recommendations for taking further necessary action.

Official sources maintained that a high level meeting was held at New Sindh Secretariat, in which it was decided to ask the local government (LG) department to prepare a working paper regarding a meeting to be co-chaired by the governor and chief minister for discussing the construction of earth-quake proof high-rise buildings in the city.

They said that the LG department has recently written a letter to the DCO Karachi and the KBCA officials to submit their proposals before Chief Secretary Sindh.

Meanwhile, experts said that there were a number of factors that the government had to take into account before allowing construction of high-rise buildings. “Structural engineering and structural designing would be needed for high-rise buildings,” said NED University Department of Architecture and Planning Chairman Dr Noman Ahmed.

He said that high-rise buildings would be needed in high density areas and down-town, but a major problem was that buildings were erected without looking into “safety planning”. He said that buildings should have a fire safety system, while a “self-contained” sewerage treatment plant would also be needed at the proposed buildings as the city’s existing treatment plants were already under pressure.

Dr Ahmed said that the buildings should be built in a way that it should not disturb commuting zoning and public space, while footpaths should remain intact. He said that the problem of congestion would be increased in case of high-rise buildings, which might cause traffic problems;

therefore, the government

had to take care of interests

of the people not of investors/builders.

He said that the Sindh chief minister had recently announced that the business district in the city would be reconstructed.

However, he said, public space should not be compromised. He suggested that high-rise buildings should be constructed on those plots/lands which were “technically viable,” otherwise it would create more problems. He also recommended to the government to take inputs from experts before bringing amendments.

Meanwhile, the LG department had also written a letter to the DCO, Thatta to submit proposals before the Chief Secretary for developing New Jhirk Model City as desired by the president.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=188485