The National Engineering Services of Pakistan (NESPAK) is all set to prepare a new building code for Pakistan to protect buildings against future damages caused by high intensity earthquakes. It has already prepared a building code for Islamabad, AJK and some parts of the NWFP that were hit by last year’s earthquake.
The new building code will be implemented by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) in Islamabad for all new constructions in the city. NESPAK has also submitted the code to the Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority (ERRA) to ensure that it is followed in the construction works in the affected areas, said NESPAK Managing Director Chaudhry Karamatullah in a presentation regarding the rehabilitation and reconstruction schemes in the earthquake-affected areas. The presentation was chaired by Federal Minister for Water and Power Liaqat Ali Jatoi on Tuesday.
According to an official statement issued on Tuesday, NESPAK, a general consultant to ERRA, has worked well for rehabilitation and reconstruction in the earthquake-affected areas and provided timely relief to the affected people in coordination with donor agencies. Karamatullah said that NESPAK had completed all necessary steps including preliminary damage assessment of the affected areas, a database of villages there and the seismic study of the areas.
He said the company had also revised the building codes for all major cities of Pakistan and had made a master plan for all major towns in the quake-hit areas that included housing, education and healthcare.
He further informed that the seismic micro zoning of Muzaffarabad, Balakot and Bagh had been completed while that of Rawalakot, and the satellite towns of Muzaffarabad were in progress. He said the infrastructure for new towns would be developed soon. He added that recommendations for preliminary seismic design parameters and criteria for a seismic-resistant design for buildings in Islamabad and Rawalpindi had been completed and was being made for the rest of the country as well.
Jatoi praised NESPAK’s services in the affected areas and directed the company to speed up its work and ensure quality in those areas to resettle the affected people in time. He also praised WAPDA for the quick restoration of power in the affected areas and stressed the need for coordinated efforts to improve the plight of the area’s people.
Source: Daily Times
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Where can I get a copy (either hardcopy or softcopy) of the Pakistan Building Code (Seismic Provision in 2007)?