ISLAMABAD, Oct 3: The National Engineering Services of Pakistan (Nespak) says it is all set to prepare a new building code for the country to avoid a repeat of the large-scale destruction in the October 2005 earthquake in the NWFP and Azad Kashmir.

In Islamabad, the new building code will be implemented by the Capital Development Authority, while such a code has also been submitted to the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra) to ensure that new buildings are erected in a proper planning.

Managing director Nespak Chaudhry Karamatullah gave details of the new building code in a presentation on rehabilitation and reconstruction schemes in the earthquake-affected areas. Federal minister for water and power Liaquat Ali Jatoi chaired the meeting.

The Nespak chief informed the meeting that his company had completed all necessary requirements including preliminary damage assessment of the areas and database as well as seismic studies of the villages in the quake-hit areas. Revision of the building code of Pakistan and master planning of major towns in earthquake-ruined areas including housing, education and health sectors have been carried out, he said.

Giving details of major assignments, Mr Karamatullah said the master plan of new Balakot town at Bakriyal and Rawlakot had been completed. He said seismic micromic zoning of Muzaffarabad, Balakot and Bagh had been completed while that of Rawlakot and Satellite Town of Muzaffarabad were in progress.

The infrastructure for the new towns will be developed within a minimum time-frame. Recommendations for preliminary seismic design parameters and criteria for seismic resistant design of buildings in Islamabad/Rawalpindi had been completed while the one for the whole country was underway.

The minister appreciated the services of Nespak with respect to rehabilitation and reconstruction in the affected areas and directed the company to improve the quality of work in these areas in order to resettle the affected people on time.

He also lauded the efforts of Wapda for quick restoration of power in the affected areas and stressed the need for effective coordination to remove the miseries of the poor people.