LAHORE, Aug 31: The City District Government Lahore has been recommended to act swiftly against six ‘dangerous’ commercial buildings in the Shahalam market to avoid any further loss of life and property.

The recommendation has come from a committee formed by DCO Muhammad Ijaz in the wake of collapse of China Tower last Thursday to examine stability of other buildings in the LDA-controlled area of the busiest market in the city.

The committee, chaired by District Officer (Coordination) Mansoor Qadir, has found foundations of these structures dangerous, besides many other serious flaws in their structure and design.

In the light of the report, the district authorities have decided to initiate action against these buildings from Monday. In the first phase, utility connections will be cut off and then their sealing or razing will be decided, official sources say.

The body has recommended to the CDGL to get examined stability of these plazas from the Building Research Station and other structural engineering bodies. Some of these structures have been constructed as back as 1993.

According to the report, Rehman Plaza, which has been under construction since 2005, had originally been allowed an altitude of 60 feet but it is 110-foot high with 10 storeys, plus two basements.

The report has declared its foundations and structural design dangerous and urged the authorities to immediately stop any further work.

Similarly, Ibrahim Centre has been under construction since 2004 with an approved altitude of 60 feet. But its owner has so far built nine storeys and two basements having 100 feet altitude. It is also full of structural flaws and a ban on its construction has been sought.

The maximum altitude approved for Jeddah Complex was 50 feet in 2004. But the owner raised it to 90 feet with eight floors and two basements. According to the report, the building has excessive dead load which could result in its collapse any time.

Ali Centre, having six floors and two basements, is 70 feet high while its approved altitude under the building plan is 50 feet. The committee found that the owners of the building, constructed in 1995, were effecting changes to its design that was weakening its structure and making it unsafe for shopkeepers and visitors. It has recommended a complete assessment of the structure.

Against the approved altitude of 50 feet, Aslam Toys Centre has been raised up to 90 feet as the building, constructed in 1993, has eight floors and two basements, while the owners are adding two more floors to the existing structure.

The building has a dubious stability due to faulty structural design while the additional load will further aggravate the situation, the report says, recommending constitution of a body of senior structural engineers to examine it.

Another plaza constructed on plot 9-A originally had three storeys but the owner added one more floor and a basement to it while raising it 20 feet more than the approved altitude of 40 feet.

Built in 1993, the edifice has poorly-designed columns as the structure apparently looks unstable, the committee observes, urging the authorities to get it examined from the Building Research Station.