500 dilapidated buildings declared unsafe in Faisalabad

Owners urged to take preventive measures to avoid mishap during monsoon season

FAISALABAD: The owners of more than 500 dilapidated buildings in Faisalabad city have been issued notices by the municipal corporation. The notices urge building owners to take appropriate preventive measures in order to avoid any mishap during the monsoon season.

With monsoon season just around the corner, the local administration is focusing on dilapidated buildings which may become a hazard to people’s safety. Such buildings can be spotted in the heart of the city, in the eight bazaars around the Clock Tower.

The streets of these markets, which are narrow and often crowded, are home to some of these buildings. Further, some of the buildings are also located in areas adjacent to Clock Tower such as Douglas Pura, Circular Road, Regal Road and Santpura.

Sources explained that issuing notices and warnings to the owners of such buildings is an old practice. These are ‘formalities’ which help to shield officials in the case of an inquiry from higher ups, sources claimed.

Several of these rundown buildings are being used by the government and are either offices for departments or police stations. A government official wishing to remain anonymous said that they have repeatedly written to higher authorities requesting them to repair the unsafe offices. However, their requests have fallen upon deaf ears

Whenever there is a mishap in any of these structures, such as a fire or a building collapse, rescue workers face severe difficulties in providing victims first aid and evacuation due to their dilapidated state.

A local explained that these buildings are owned by several people. Each portion of the building has a different owner who uses it either as a residence or a commercial space. The municipal staff has served such notices every year before the monsoon season but tenants do not pay them any heed.

“Because several people own one structure, nobody is ready to repair and renovate the building and there is never any consensus on how to divide the expenditure for reconstruction.” Poor cooperation and lack of communication between the many tenants is a major obstacle in reconstruction, he maintained.

Municipal Officer Planning Muhammad Farook stated that the buildings in question were constructed before Partition. Majority of the building owners are in litigation against each other over property disputes, therefore officials are unable to intervene, he said.

The municipal corporation issues notices and carries out awareness drives by visiting door to door and publishing advertisements in newspapers. Such measures can persuade citizens to follow the instructions issued by the government, he maintained.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27^th, 2019.