CHITRAL, April 5: Speakers at a workshop have called for constructing buildings strictly according to designs specific to Chitral region, which is prone to earthquakes due to its proximity to the fault line declared as red zone.

Held under the aegis of Aga Khan Planning and Building Service (AKPBS), Pakistan, the workshop was addressed by building and environment experts, including Engineer Qaim Ali Shah, Mohammad Karam and others.

They said that building code approved for the region contained the basic principles, which could help in mitigating the effects of earthquake and hence reducing the magnitude of destruction of buildings.

They said that the AKPBS had introduced the building system based on the principles devised on scientific lines to suit the local topography of mountainous region, which is close to the epicenter of most of the high magnitude earthquakes.

The speakers said that the use of hollow blocks were introduced in the area by AKPBS two decades ago, which had proved their usefulness.

Chitral assistant commissioner Noorul Amin, who was chief guest at the workshop, said that the sufferings of people could be mitigated by proper planning and preparedness. He said that the district administration would support positive initiatives concerning disaster management in the district.

DISTINCTION: A student from Balach village of Chitral, Shakila Haidar, has passed her MSc Zoology from University of Peshawar with distinction.

Talking to Dawn here on Friday, she said that she would continue her education in her field and join the teaching profession in a Chitral-based educational institution.

Ms Shakila said that Zoology had a great relevancy with the area, which was rich in biodiversity that could be utilised for the progress of the area only through proper research.