ISLAMABAD, Nov 16: Pak-istan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (Pildat) has asked the parliamentary standing committees on housing and works to oversee the process of formulating new building codes for Islamabad, Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas, and the process of their implementation.

In separate letters to the chairman Senate Standing Committee on Housing and Works Mohammad Ali Brohi and chairman of the National Assembly standing committee Ghias Mela, Pildat said the Oct 8 earthquake had exposed the deficiencies and inadequacies of the current codes.

Pildat, a non-governmental organization (NGO), urged the committees to take urgent steps to ensure that the new building codes conformed to the best international professional standards and all relevant professional bodies of Pakistan like Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC), Pakistan Council of Architects and Town Planners (PCATP), the Institution of Engineers Pakistan (IEP), the Institute of Architects Pakistan (IAP) were consulted and taken on board regarding the new building codes.

Pildat reminded the parliamentary committee chairs and members that as elected representatives of the people serving on the relevant committees, it was their duty to oversee the process. The committees were urged to take the initiative themselves without waiting for the executive branch to refer the case to them. Pildat also drew their attention to the critical nature of the issue of the building code and its significance in protecting life and property of the people.