The government has decided to impose ban on production and use of cold-twisted (TOR) steel bars which the Housing Ministry believes are not capable to resist moderate and severe earthquake jolts, official sources told Business Recorder on Wednesday.
In the earthquake stricken areas of NWFP and AJK, mostly cold-twisted steel bars were used in construction, which lack strength to resist severe jolts.
"The Ministry of Housing and Works has been directed to take up with the Industries Ministry the issue of banning production and use of cold-twisted bars in construction of new buildings," sources said.
They said that National Engineering Services Pakistan (Nespak) has completed the seismic survey with the assistance of foreign experts, which suggests that Islamabad-Rawalpindi area lsies in Zone-3 (moderate to severe damage) and not in Zone-2 (minor to moderate damage).
According to sources, during detailed discussion at a meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, it was observed that 'Peak Ground Acceleration' (PGA) values ranging between 0.20g and 0.30g for rock sites would be taken as basis for designing various types of buildings.
It has also been decided to follow International Building Code 2003 for designing of buildings in the area, whereas Capital Development Authority (CDA) would enforce the revised code/parameters under its existing building bylaws for Islamabad area, and subsequently on completion of seismic zoning of other areas, the provincial governments and AJK would be directed to adopt these parameters.
"After finalisation of seismic zoning of the entire country, Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) will enforce and publicise the revised building parameters," sources said.
They said that there would be no restriction on the height of buildings in Islamabad-Rawalpindi area if they are constructed as per revised code. Moreover, CDA would issue guidelines for single and two-storey private houses.
The government has also directed the Ministry of Housing and the CDA to arrange awareness campaign and education of the general public about the revised parameters requirements.
The Federal Cabinet had constituted a committee to revise the building codes, under the chairmanship of Secretary Housing and Works, comprising representatives of Petroleum Ministry, Environment Ministry, Geological Survey of Pakistan, Pakistan Meteorological Department, Pakistan Engineering Council, CDA, Quaid-i-Azam University, Engineering University Karachi, UET Taxila, NWFP UET Peshawar, Earthquake Rehabilitation & Reconstruction and Nespak.
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