KARACHI, Aug 18: Experts at a seminar said contractors should switch over to specially manufactured construction materials for building purposes due to the hazards and high cost associated with ordinary stuff.

The seminar, entitled “super-plasticized cements and hi-bond prepackaged polymer-modified mortars as high performance construction materials”, was organized by the Institute of Engineers Pakistan (IEP) in collaboration with a local cement factory.

“Karachi has now been placed in the seismic zone-4 which means contractors and other civic bodies should switch over to the use of special construction materials while erecting buildings, even houses,” observed Dr Mussaratullah Afridi.

He said natural polymers had been used for construction purposes since pre-history period and structures built with such materials have lasting life.

Citing examples of the great wall of China and the Pyramids of Egypt, he claimed that modern world has discovered materials of that great strength, which are now in use in the United States, Japan, Germany and other such countries.

These materials not only provide high strength, durability and elasticity but are also far cheaper than ordinary cement and concrete, he added.

Innovated by Japanese and German experts, super-placiticized cement and hi-bond polymer-modified mortars are now being widely used for preparation of water and sewerage pipes and lining and construction of canals to minimize wastage of water in irrigation systems, he added.

Talking about deterioration of concrete structures in coastal regions, he said polymer-modified technology could be used for building tremor-proof structures, which are cost-effective and within the reach of the common man.

He urged consultants and contractors to acquire modern technologies for provision of durable, lasting and low-cost housing to a vast shelterless majority of Pakistan.

President of the IEP M.P. Gangwani was of the view that the common man was interested in economy of construction materials, used for building purposes.

Hence, it becomes the responsibility of contractors, consultants and engineers to work for provision of durable but cost-effective construction materials.

Mr Gangwani informed the participants about a recently held Saarc conference on low-cost housing in Karachi and urged cement manufacturers to come out with proposals of low-cost cement and construction materials.—PPI