'Vertical development not suitable for Karachi'

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Shahid Husain
The megapolis and it suburbs have ample space for horizontal development but the authorities are apparently adamant to transform the city of 18 million people into a “world class city” through vertical development ñ irrespective of whether the ailing civic agencies are in a position to ensure basic amenities to the residents.

The Sindh government is poised to amend building by-laws to pave the way for constructing high rises in Karachi, under the directives of President Asif Ali Zardari.

“The suburbs of Karachi have ample space for horizontal development but the government is opting for vertical development because it is in no mood to improve the infrastructure,” Tariq Saeed, a senior structural engineer, told The News. “Vertical development is often not for middle classes. It will make life unhealthy, especially for children. There is dearth of parks and playgrounds in the city and children can’t sit in balconies.”

“Apartment-living is community-living and it is meant for civilised people who care for each other; when there is densification, however, it will be very difficult to ensure services round-the-clock,” he said. “We can’t even manage fire-fighting in a three-storey building in Karachi. How can we help people in a 100-storey building if there is a short circuit?”

Mohammad Nauman, an associate professor at the NED University of Engineering and Technology, said that it was strange that the top bosses of the Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA) have been asked to amend building by-laws, and if there was a need to do so, the authorities should follow the Karachi Strategic Master Plan-2020 despite its deficiencies.

“A KBCA top bureaucrat who is close to President Zardari has been directed to amend building by-laws,” he said. “The KBCA is an implementing agency; its job is not to amend by-laws. Secondly, the KBCA has been instrumental in legalising every kind of illegality and ignoring blatant violations of the Sindh Building Control Ordinance. Why is the vast majority of Karachi not being given priority in the provision of basic amenities? Why are resources being diverted to the super rich?”

“According to estimates, the population (of Karachi) will double by 2025,” according to a report by a multinational company. “The city district of Karachi has a road network which encompasses about 5,000 kilometers. Approximately 1.5 million automobile drivers are officially registered. The traffic density increases by ten per cent annually.”

“Highly inflammable material is used in modern buildings,” Nauman said. “There have been around three fires in the National Shipping Corporation (NSC) building and it was difficult to control it. How come fire safety will be ensured in 100-storey complexes?”

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=207608