ISLAMABAD: With rapid urbanisation, it is estimated that by 2030, more than 45pc of Pakistan’s population will be living in cities, but because safety codes for the construction of buildings are often ignored, building collapses are common, participants of an online seminar said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a seminar organised by the Iqbal Institute of Policy Studies (IIPS) to assess the reasons behind building collapses in Pakistan and to prevent such incidents in the future, they said it was imperative to completely rethink cities and urban spaces to encourage resilient, environment-friendly and sustainable development practices.

Pakistan’s fragile built environment has given rise to frequent media reports of collapsed buildings in major cities.

NED University of Engineering and Technology Vice Chancellor Dr Sarosh Hashmat Lodhi said that the most fundamental cause of building collapse is the failure to comply with construction and safety codes.

He said there are multiple factors leading to structural failure in Pakistan, including poor design, lack of testing before and after construction, foundation failure and lack of maintenance or a combination of these.

The Capital Development Authority Member Planning and Design Dr Shahid Mehmood said old buildings that have outlived their useful life are more prone to collapse. Poor maintenance of buildings can reduce the life of structures and need periodic checks and inspection for faults. In the absence of preventive measures, buildings become more susceptible to collapse, he said.

IIPS Advisory Board President retired Lt Gen M Haroon Aslam, who moderated the discussion, said that the absence of regulatory compliance is one of the major causes of the fragile built environment in Pakistan.

He added that the construction industry is in a developing stage. There is an urgent need to eliminate bottlenecks such as corrupt practices in the industry, improve land regulation and building control, standardise and implement building laws across the board and impart the latest skills to students for the future of the industry.

Architectural and Civil Engineering Services CEO Brig Khaliqur Rashid Kiyani said: “Building authorities must exercise authority over the construction companies.”

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2020