June 28, 2007	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Sani 12, 1428

LAHORE, June 27: The structural strength of all the 1,100 or so big publicity billboards, especially those erected on the roofs of multi-storey buildings and near the main power-supply wires, are being evaluated on a priority basis.

Three firms and as many structural engineers have been enlisted for the purpose by the Parks and Horticulture Authority which has also asked the advertising agencies concerned to also ensure safety measures at their own.

Prof Dr M Ashraf, Dr Zahid Ahmad and Ziauddin Mian of the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, are the experts while Engineering Project Development Consultants, Multi Dimensional Consultants and MS Associates are the firms enlisted by the PHA for the purpose.

“PHA teams are already in the field to assess the strength of each hoarding to withstand wind and storm pressures,” Director-General Raja Abbass said on Wednesday.