The government will survey old and rundown buildings in the province, said Sindh Minister for Local Government Agha Siraj Durrani at a reception organised to celebrate the 36th National Day of Mozambique on Wednesday.
According to Durrani, building by-laws chalked out under the 1979 Sindh Building Control Act are important for all cities in the province, and should not be restricted to Karachi.
“Buildings in Sukkur and Hyderabad have caved in because of their dilapidated state and no action has been taken by the previous governments,” he said. “The present government has realised its responsibility and has started taking action against owners, managers and officials for the conservation and maintenance of buildings that are part of our cultural heritage,” Durrani said.
They have cleared eight roads in Sindh for high-density traffic, he added. According to Durrani, it is because of the government’s responsibility that the construction tax rates have been reduced by 50% so that builders, who had previously abandoned their work may re-start. “The government will carefully monitor the quality of construction work and ensure that this benefits the people and city,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 1st, 2011.
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