RDA demolishes offices of illegal housing societies
RCB seeks fire safety documents for high-rise buildings in cantonment
RDA staff demolish offices of illegal housing societies along Chakri Road. PHOTO: EXPRESS
RAWALPINDI:
The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) on Thursday demolished several offices of illegal housing societies along Chakri Road, while some were razed.
The offices of these illegal housing societies were allegedly marketing the societies and selling plots without the permission of RDA.
On the directives of RDA Director General Mehr Ahmed Hayat, RDA Town Planning and Traffic Engineering Director Jamshed Aftab and Deputy Director Tahir Mayo demolished the offices of Blue World City, Capital Smart City, Khannial Homes, and Abdullah City.
The RDA director general clarified that illegal housing societies are not allowed to sell plots in their jurisdiction.
He urged citizens to avoid investing in such societies.
RCB seeks safety documents
In order to ensure the safety of high-rise buildings built within its jurisdiction, the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) has sought all relevant safety documents regarding such buildings.
In this regard, the board has started issuing notices to all high-rise commercial buildings in the cantonment.
RCB has declared that all high-rise buildings — which are ground-plus-three or higher – must submit to them documents relating to their firefighting system, emergency escape routes, Rescue 1122 Fire Safety Clearance Certificate, Fitness Certificate from the structural engineer, mechanical, electric and plumbing system SOP compliance certificate, completion certificate as per the approved building plan.
Any commercial building which fails to fulfil the legal requirements for minimizing damage, the emergency escape route from the building in the event of a fire, having a complete firefighting system, will be stopped from operating. Not only will the buildings be required to assure this through the requisite documents but also through site inspection.
The RCB has decided to review provisions for fire safety in high-rises in the cantonment nearly a decade after the horrifying Ghakkar Plaza fire on November 20, 2008, in which at least 13 firefighters had perished owing to the absence of a fire exit or proper firefighting system.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 8th, 2019.
The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) on Thursday demolished several offices of illegal housing societies along Chakri Road, while some were razed.
The offices of these illegal housing societies were allegedly marketing the societies and selling plots without the permission of RDA.
On the directives of RDA Director General Mehr Ahmed Hayat, RDA Town Planning and Traffic Engineering Director Jamshed Aftab and Deputy Director Tahir Mayo demolished the offices of Blue World City, Capital Smart City, Khannial Homes, and Abdullah City.
The RDA director general clarified that illegal housing societies are not allowed to sell plots in their jurisdiction.
He urged citizens to avoid investing in such societies.
RCB seeks safety documents
In order to ensure the safety of high-rise buildings built within its jurisdiction, the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) has sought all relevant safety documents regarding such buildings.
In this regard, the board has started issuing notices to all high-rise commercial buildings in the cantonment.
RCB has declared that all high-rise buildings — which are ground-plus-three or higher – must submit to them documents relating to their firefighting system, emergency escape routes, Rescue 1122 Fire Safety Clearance Certificate, Fitness Certificate from the structural engineer, mechanical, electric and plumbing system SOP compliance certificate, completion certificate as per the approved building plan.
Any commercial building which fails to fulfil the legal requirements for minimizing damage, the emergency escape route from the building in the event of a fire, having a complete firefighting system, will be stopped from operating. Not only will the buildings be required to assure this through the requisite documents but also through site inspection.
The RCB has decided to review provisions for fire safety in high-rises in the cantonment nearly a decade after the horrifying Ghakkar Plaza fire on November 20, 2008, in which at least 13 firefighters had perished owing to the absence of a fire exit or proper firefighting system.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 8th, 2019.