Tuition centre tragedy

The deadly building collapse of a private tuition centre in Lahore is another reminder of the pathetic enforcement of building controls and the unscrupulous behaviour of the construction industry, which prioritises profits over safety. Reports said 14 children between the ages of five and 16 were killed after the roof collapsed under the weight of construction workers who were working on it. The roof was made from concrete and steel T-beams, which are named for their shape. While concrete is a standard construction material, T-beams are considered far inferior to I-beams. While T-beams only have one flange - the horizontal element on top - I-beams have flanges at the top and bottom, giving them superior tensile strength and making them safer for use in roofs. However, they are also more expensive, costing anywhere from 50% to 100% more, which explains why builders avoid using them unless forced to do so.

Unfortunately, those cost savings kill dozens of people every year, as many roof and wall collapses are attributed to the use of substandard materials, but the government takes no preemptive efforts to curb such incidents, such as tracking the sale of T-beams or tightening construction laws and inspection regimes.

But it is not just a matter of shoddy construction or poor building controls. Home-based tuition centres are opening at every corner, uninspected, unlicensed and unsafe, creating a nuisance for neighbours and a potential hazard for their students and staff. Legislation to regulate them in Punjab has been stalled for almost two years. In the interim, several more houses have turned into substandard tuition centres.

Top elected officials are expressing grief and condolences, saying that they understand the pain of the victims' parents. But we need not be parents to empathise with victims' families and to provide them with justice. To deliver justice, we must ensure that negligent parties are punished, that preventive legislation is enacted, and that enforcement is strengthened so that such incidents are no longer inevitable.