KARACHI: Quake-proof buildings be built in city: Waseem
KARACHI, Nov 2: Sindh Local Government Advisor and Chairman Disaster Management Committee Wasim Akhtar said on Wednesday that all buildings in the province would be made “earthquake-proof” and builders would be asked to construct quake-proof and stronger structures.
He was chairing third meeting of Disaster Management Committee (DMC) which was formed to meet any eventuality in the province. The meeting was attended by Sindh secretary local government, additional secretary local government, Sindh relief commissioner and heads of Sir Syed, Sindh and Urdu Universities.
The meeting reviewed report of technical subcommittee and seven-point agenda, including reviewing seismic zoning of Pakistan, seismic zoning and micro-zoning of Karachi, seismic frequency map, before, during and post-earthquake measures, creating awareness about earthquake among masses, coping with rumours, comprehensive form of available reports and occurrence of earthquake in Pakistan.
Speaking on the occasion, the advisor urged the committee to pay extra attention towards Karachi as it comprises high-rise buildings, large population and slum localities.
“The builders will be asked to also make existing buildings besides future constructions earthquake-proof so that their residents could feel themselves safe,” he said.
He asked the committee to also consider prospects of bomb blasts, rains, fire and other natural calamities while taking measures pertaining to disaster management.
He further said all constructions, particularly schools and colleges to be built under governmental administration should be stronger and carried out in the light of recommendations of expert architects and consultants. Besides, emergency rooms must be constructed in high-rise buildings, he added.
Mr Akhtar said the main task of disaster management cell was to co-ordinate with the government departments and providing them guidelines regarding measures taken prior to quake and quick action during and after quake.
He said in future people would be provided authentic and timely information regarding any catastrophe through media and school and college students would be imparted training to cope with earthquakes.
The advisor directed the technical and management subcommittees to finalise their recommendations and suggestions till Nov 12 so that it could be submitted to the Sindh Governor for approval.
Vice-chancellor Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science & Technology (FUUAST) Dr Iqbal Mohsin said Pakistan was the fifth largest country where earthquakes came.
He proposed that Karachi should be put in Zone III in order to save it from quakes, adding as many as 29 cities of the country are included in the map and people can see the zoning.
Dr S M Makhdoomi of Sir Syed University stressed the need for taking precautionary steps in the wake of recent devastating earthquake in northern parts of the country and Azad Kashmir.
After the meeting, the chairman of the Disaster Management Committee Waseem Akhtar said that the government has decided to include one MPA from the opposition in the task force on disaster management.
“I have contacted the opposition leader in Sindh Assembly Nisar A Khuhro but he was on way to Larkana. We will wait for a nomination from him before announcing the task force.”, he added. He said the task force will have one MPA each from treasury and opposition, besides other members and will work as the commanding authority.
The advisor said the technical committee submitted on Wednesday the draft report consisting of recommendations to deal with any eventuality and after some slight changes, this committee will submit the final report in coordination with the management committee by Nov 12.
He said the report also included the review of the seismic map and frequency and recommendations on precautionary measures and the modes to create awareness about earthquakes, cyclones among masses.
“This report will be submitted by the disaster management committee to the Sindh Governor for approval and necessary legislation in the bylaws of the building control and other departments”, he added.
The meeting unanimously agreed to start disaster awareness programme on media where experts would respond to various queries of the public.
The meeting was told that there was a probability of an earthquake of severe intensity in Karachi in next 50 years.
The KBCA representative said that they want to conduct strength evaluation survey to identify weak buildings and old structure so that they can be re-strengthened.
It was informed that Federal Urdu University for Arts, Science and Technology will publish a 100-page book both in Urdu and English to create awareness among masses on earthquake and other disasters.
Secretary Local Government Mohammad Ishaq Lashari, Member BOR Syed Awar Haider and other members of the committee were also present on the occasion.—PPI/APP
