LAHORE, Dec 25: The no-objection certificate (NOC) by the Environment Protection Agency that is to be made mandatory before approving the highrises will not apply retroactively, according to EPA Punjab Director-General Dr Shagufta Shahjehan.

This allows hundreds of potentially unsafe buildings to continue to operate unless the City District Government Lahore makes good on its promises to fight illegal encroachments.

On Wednesday, Dr Awais Farooqui, chairman of the Chief Minister’s Taskforce on Environment, reiterated that all new highrises must pass certain safety tests regarding their structural stability, provisions for fire safety, emergency exits, car parking and solid waste management in line with the Pakistan Environment Protection Act (PEPA) 1997. He asked all development authorities and tehsil municipal administrations to comply accordingly.

The instructions were issued in the light of the Gakkhar Plaza incident in Rawalpindi last week. Dr Shagufta said in order to avoid a repeat of the incident, it is essential for buildings to be equipped with water sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers and iron cutters.

She added that the building the Punjab EPA and EPD is housed in itself is not compliant with safety regulations as it lacks the provision of emergency exits. The building is located behind the Pakistan Hockey Federation’s offices.