MUZAFFARABAD, Oct 13: Municipal Corporation Administrator Zahid Amin has asked citizens to formally contact the municipal corporation before starting new construction to get technical guidlines from architects.

Talking to journalists here on Friday, he said that Muzaffarabad needed more structural engineers and architects to guide citizens.

“On the formal opening of reconstruction process I appeal to engineers and architects of the AJK and Pakistan on behalf of the people of Muzaffarabad to come here on a voluntary basis as people are in dire need of their guidance,” he said.

The administrator said that people would be allowed to carry out construction on the rest of the land taking into consideration the expansion proposed in the land review plan. “If any citizen is left without land in the event of implementation of the land review plan, such cases will be handed over to the committee set up by the government through district administration. Citizens may contact the central design office, municipal corporation, PWD and MDA for guidance.”

Following the completion of demarcation survey and formulation of land reviews plan building by-laws, every urban family would be allowed to carry out construction which is left with land after expansion of land review plan, he said. Otherwise citizens could build shelter homes with CGI sheet in the wake of winter season.

He said that over 600 urban families have sought permission for construction of temporary shelter homes. “We will approve maps to be presented by citizens by conducting double shifts. Earth test is essential for construction of multi-storey buildings.”

He indicated that the existing buildings in Chattar area, Shuakat Lines and Gojra would not be demolished. Citizens would further firm up their building with the help of qualified engineers, he added.

The government would provide alternative land to those who were affected by land sliding, he said, adding that a committee had been constituted at the government level.

“We have proposed several offices be shifted to Garhi Dupatta from Muzaffarabad which have nothing to do with public dealing,” he said.

He said that the district headquarters would not be shifted from the old secretariat.

About 1,200 kanals would be available after the shifting of the offices which would be distributed among the affected people, he added.

INQUIRY: AJK Education Minister Chaudhry Tariq Farooq has started collecting proofs against former education minister Chaudhry Aziz relating to allegations of corruption and misuse of power.