This is apropos a Business Recorder op-ed "Dangerous buildings" carried by the newspaper last week. The writer, Zia Ul Islam Zuberi, has highlighted an issue of very high import. It is quite true that residential buildings in Karachi quite frequently. What is also true is that many families are devastated and some completely destroyed as tons of rubble swallow up their near and dear ones. The writer has pointed out, among other things, that "it is really agonizing for survivors to stand outside a heap of steel and mortar hoping that somehow their near and dear ones will be pulled out of the rubble. It is only a miracle that saves some lives otherwise the rescue services in this metropolitan city leave much to be desired."

The question, however, is: who is responsible for this state of affairs? This unfortunate situation persists although even the apex court of the country has asked the Sindh government and other relevant authorities to take corrective measures without any further loss of time. The Supreme Court of Pakistan has often criticised the growth of illegal constructions in Karachi.

The other point raised in the article is in relation to the role of Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA). Unfortunately, this authority, as pointed out by the writer, is not performing its role in accordance with its mandate. It must pull its socks up so that the lives of people are not endangered by poor quality controls.

FARID KHAN (KARACHI)

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020