THE collapse of a multi-storey building in a densely populated urban area of Karachi is yet another grim reminder of insufficient and impoverished condition of the building bye-laws – or its execution in the true sense.

It is unfortunate that these incidents do not receive the attention they should from provincial governments and the respective authorities responsible for managing such affairs.

The latest tragedy should serve as a wake-up call to all provincial governments, to enhance and improve the capacity of their building departments to monitor and enforce building laws especially in big cities. This is the only solution to resolve this long-standing issue.

It is time that the town municipal authorities’ engineering departments and other allied sections started work in close cooperation with the national engineering body –Pakistan Engineering Council— and chalk out building bye-laws in accordance with the need of the day.

Only such a proactive and pragmatic approach can guarantee a safer and progressive society.

Fazal Rehman Safi
Peshawar

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2020