Derelict premises: Finance, Local Govt Depts working in ‘unfit’ buildings

Immediate evacuation and renovation has been recommended for the structures in the Civil Secretariat.

LAHORE:

The Buildings Department has declared two buildings in the Punjab Civil Secretariat unfit for use and directed the departments concerned to undertake immediate repairs, The Express Tribune has learnt.

A letter addressed to the Finance, the Local Government and Community Development Departments (owners of the buildings) and the Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD) states that the buildings are in a dilapidated condition and cautions against their use.

It refers to recent incidents where segments of their roofs had collapsed and suggests that the buildings be vacated and comprehensive repairs carried out to ensure the safety of the staff.



It says quick-fix repairs carried out following last September’s torrential rains had not been enough to ensure that the buildings were safe for use. The letter says that water seepage had affected several buildings on the Civil Secretariat premises during last September’s rains. Besides the roof and walls, seepage at Finance and Community Development and Local Government blocks had also caused damage to furniture and equipment as well as important documents.

It says an initial condition survey (conducted after the monsoon season) had found that the structures supporting the roof (beams and lintels) and several walls at the two buildings were damaged and needed immediate repair. The survey recommended a detailed inspection of the buildings so that repair and replacement work could be carried out accordingly.

However, the letter says, the repair work carried out after the survey had failed to prevent the collapse of a part of the ceiling in the main corridor in front of the Budget Hall at the Finance Department on March 3. There were fortunately no casualties in the incident.

Mirza Sharif, the administration deputy secretary at the Finance Department, confirmed that a letter received from the Buildings Department had stated that the roof was in a dilapidated condition and needed repairs. He said a decision on evacuation of the building or repair of the roof would be taken by senior officers who had been informed about the warning.

More than 500 employees perform duties in the two buildings.

The Finance Department building was constructed in 1892. The building was originally a single- storey structure. In the 1990s, a mezzanine floor was added in the building to accommodate staff which could no longer be housed in the single storey structure. Currently, the building contains offices of the special secretary, six additional secretaries, 12 deputy secretaries, six section offices, the director budget, the receipt and issuance branch and a committee room.

The Local Government and Community Development building pre-dated the Finance Department building. It was originally constructed as a residential complex for government officers. Currently, it houses offices of the secretary, the special secretary, three additional secretaries, four deputy secretaries, the law director, and four section officers.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2015.