LAHORE, Nov 11: District nazim Mian Amer Mahmood has stressed the need for a change in the construction culture in the aftermath of the earthquake. He said at a meeting held at the Jinnah Hall here on Friday the bylaws required to be reviewed for ensuring construction of buildings capable to withstand earthquake. People should also be educated about the importance of construction of the buildings in accordance with the bylaws after approval of the site plans from the authorities concerned.

He said the contractors and developers should also learn a lesson from the devastation caused by the earthquake and change their construction culture. They should pay proper attention to the project management and use only quality materials for construction to eliminate chances of collapse in the event of quakes.

Mian Amer said the Lahore Development Authority should get information about the seismic zone of the city district and propose amendments to the building bylaws accordingly. Contractors and developers should also submit proposals for the construction of buildings capable of withstanding quakes.

He said the city district government would encourage the construction of parking plazas in the city and offer incentives for the purpose. Buildings should be designed in a manner that they did not create problems for those living in the neighbourhood.

The contractors stressed the need for regular inspection of buildings at different stages of construction for ensuring construction in accordance with the building bylaws. They proposed creation of a separate cell for checking the quality of building materials.

The nazim directed the LDA officials to submit a detailed report about the site plans of under-construction plazas in the city district within a week.

The meeting was attended by LDA chief metropolitan planner Khwaja Shaukat Jamal, chief town planner Qazi Masood Ahmad, administration director Abdul Hamid, DO (buildings) Chaudhry Anwar, DO (E&M) Khalid Mahmood Sabri and representatives of contractors and developers.