Believe it or not, but it is the fact that about 385 buildings, having four to eight stories, have been constructed in Faisalabad over an area spanning between one to four Marlas in violation of laid down standard design specifications, basic principles of engineering, architecture and town-planning and without approval of the agencies concerned.
There is not a single multi-storey shopping mall or plaza, in the private sector, which has been developed during the last four decades by fulfilling requirements of suitability of land, soil testing, zoning regulations, provisions of required standard, emergency exits, fire-extinguishing facility, car parking, washrooms and designs keeping in view the natural distress.
In addition, as many as 265 school buildings which were officially declared "extremely dangerous" and may cause fatal accidents any time in view of their dilapidated conditions continue to be used and classes are being held in these schools, including Muslim Model High School Nigehbanpura, Government Girls High School Karkhana Bazaar, MC Girls High School Chak No 192-RB,etc.
At least 483 multi-storey commercial plazas were developed in the city without getting proper approval from agencies concerned which mainly located on the Sargodha Road Plaza, Chiniot Bazaar Intersection to Gumti Chowk, Rail Bazar, etc, in the city without even getting any minor approval from any of the agency.
At present practically there exists no rules, system of inspections during the stages of constructions of multi-storey plazas right from foundations to completion stage for ensuring and keeping vigilant eye on the construction material, structure design and adherence to other codal requirements.
There has been mushroom growth of haphazard and poorly designed buildings on proportionately small plots using improper or defective construction materials, without any discrimination between residential and non-residential areas with the obvious intention of making lucrative profits, which is so dangerous that some serious accident could take place any time.
The laws concerning construction of multi-storey buildings and commercial plazas are so defective that anybody is entitled to construct a multi-storey commercial building in residential areas, merely by payment of conversion fee to the Town Councils.
The concerned departments are granting permissions for the said purpose indiscriminately thus encouraging the trend of construction of high rise buildings in residential as well as thickly populated commercial areas around the famous Clock Tower and in the inner markets of eight bazaars of the city deceiving the original planning and historical grandeur.
Unfortunately, the agencies responsible for protecting the original layout plans through strict implementation on regulatory measures have facilitated the violators with a backdoor in the form of payment of commercialisation fee which in turn paves way for law-violators to play havoc with the sanctity of residential areas.
Ironically, Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) established in 1979, has miserably failed to formulate master plan, lay down any policy or set rules regarding construction and standardisation of designs of commercial plazas and multi-storey buildings in terms of the "Cities Development Act of 1976" so far.
All constructions by the FDA have so far been limited to give sanction of new Towns by its FDA's Town Planning Wing, without any serious consideration of requirements of design and proper planning.
There is no system of post-construction checking of the buildings and construction material. The height of atrocity is that open spaces reserved in newly developed colonies have mostly been sold out right under the nose of FDA, where multi-storey buildings have appeared.
Still more painfully is the fact that the open spaces in the developed colonies of the FDA and Housing and Physical Planning Department have been auctioned by these agencies themselves where high rise buildings have been constructed by private persons after greasing the palms of officials concerned.
Since the city did not fall in the belt of sensitive earthquake area, not much thought appears to have been given to these aspects of design. None of the buildings which at present exist in the city is designed in a way to be capable of coping with the situation arising out of any earthquake. Not a single survey of potentially dangerous dwellings and buildings has so far been carried out.
In his directive, DCO asked all the concerned agencies to carry out immediate survey of all commercial plazas and multi-storied buildings of the city. But so far nothing came out.
This step appears to be a cosmetic arrangement in view of the fact that agencies entrusted with the survey neither have manpower nor expertise resources, or power to undo the violations committed. However, information gathered from all the concerned agencies revealed that the survey is still incomplete and under process.
According to a senior town planner Bahauddin Siddiqui, there should be a master plan in consonance with topography of the city and a laid down specific criteria for development of all types of buildings, colonies, commercial areas, construction material, facilities such as car parking, lifts, wash rooms, height story limit and a comprehensive stage-wise inspections for quality control of the construction process, provisions of open spaces, green belts and other infrastructure.