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90% of surveyed buildings lack safety measures

Staff Report

KARACHI: The city government’s inspection teams conducting a survey of four-storey and higher buildings in Saddar Town have surveyed 2,200 buildings, with the task fast nearing completion.

An official of the city government involved in the survey process told Daily Times Friday that the teams had completed the survey of 2,200 four-storey and higher buildings. He said the survey teams have noticed lack of basic preventive and safety measures in these buildings, which could prove disastrous in case of any eventuality.

According to the official, the teams have learnt that 90 percent of such buildings have no fire extinguishers and no emergency and safe passages and exits. He said these buildings have narrow stairs and common passages and a haphazard power distribution system, which might aggravate any emergency. Even the gates of these buildings are not wide, he added.

The official noted that a KBCA team was separately assessing the material and condition of the building structures. He also mentioned that the survey had been completed in Civil Lines, Preedy Street, some parts of Clifton and the PIDC area.

He said the remaining survey would be completed in a few days and the report would be submitted to the city nazim.

City Nazim Mustafa Kamal took the decision last month to conduct survey in each town to assess the condition of buildings so that preventive measures could be taken in case of any urgency.

The decision was stated to have been taken in the aftermath of the October earthquake in northern areas of the country, in which 90 percent of houses and building structures collapsed and more than 80,000 people died.

The city government is hoping that the survey report of each town will not only help it assess the condition of the buildings but also help it and the Disaster Management Board make plans for the safety of the citizens and to face any critical situation. The survey teams comprise officials from the Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA) and the Civil Defence and Fire Brigade departments of the city government. Saddar Town has been declared a model town for conducting the survey.

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