October 10, 2005
Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan (CRCP) held a meeting at its premises in G-6/3, Islamabad, to discuss the role and responsibilities of government agencies in case of natural disasters and calamities like earth quakes in general, and to review the relief operation going on in the affected areas, particularly in F-10 sector Islamabad. The participants of the meeting included architects, civil engineers, lawyers, civil society activists, and concerned citizens from all walks of life.
The meeting commenced with the offering of fateha for the deceased, and a prayer for the rapid rehabilitation of injured and other victims of the calamity. The participants expressed immense grief over the widespread loss of life and property in the hard hit areas of Azad Kashmir, NWFP, Islamabad and other areas of Pakistan. Majority of the participants expressed their dissatisfaction over the level of relief work going on in the quake-affected areas, as well as preparedness of various governmental and local authorities to face such calamities in future.
No doubt disaster is colossal, yet the level of preparedness of authorities and government agencies concerned was deplorable. Vidhya Rana, a photo journalist from Daily Pakistan, showed through her photographs, taken during the course of rescue operation at Margalla Towers, Islamabad, that the officials and agencies which reached Margalla Towers, were extremely ill-equipped and had little idea as to how to carry out a rescue operation in such situations. That is why she stressed the need for the establishment of a permanent department for disaster management.
Mr. Tariq A. Rana, a building designer from Islamabad, said that the disaster relief agencies were utterly ill equipped to deal with disaster at such scale. He stressed the need for learning from this painful experience and effect appropriate planning to avoid and, or handle any such disaster in future. He urged that earth quake factor fully be taken into account before planning or constructing any high-rise building or house especially in earth quake prone areas.
Mr. Irfan Maqbool from RDPI said that since long a fool proof disaster management plan had been on cards. However, the laxity in the passing and implementation of disaster management plan by the government has highlighted and exposed the lacunae in government’s capacity to handle such disaster. He stressed the need for a comprehensive disaster management plan as soon as possible to avoid any further loss in situations like this. He further stressed the need for consistently engaging with the local government agencies while approving and implementing any such disaster management plan.
Ms. Jameela Aslam, an advocate of High Court, praised the government for such a quick response of the government and authorities to undertake rescue operation. However, she criticized the people in CDA, who were involved in approving the construction plan of such buildings as Margalla Towers for residential purposes, not complying with the building code of CDA. She said that the builders and CDA officials, if found guilty of any misconduct, by an independent enquiry commission, must be severely punished and made an example.
Mr. Nadeem Iqbal stressed the need for a professional department/ministry to deal with disasters in Pakistan. He stressed the need for compliance with all by-laws of CDA and Environment Impact Assessment requirement of any project to avoid any natural and environmental hazards.
Dr. A. Salman Humayun, stressed upon citizen groups, CSOs and bar associations to join hands to make an effective pressure group to seek compliance with laws and rules of CDA, by the public and CDA as well. He said that Freedom of Information Act is presently operational in Pakistan, especially in the federal capital. This law could be utilized to gather information from CDA to establish the truth in the case of Margalla Towers. He further emphasized upon citizen groups to hold follow-up meetings with CDA for a positive engagement to redress citizen concerns in situations like this. He further added the need for a permanent liaison between CDA and citizen groups for incremental gains in seeking compliance with CDA rules and stamping out of vested interests in the dealings of CDA.