A conference on engineering and construction was held on Friday at a local hotel in Karachi under the auspices of the Association of Consulting Engineers Pakistan. Senior Minister of Sindh for Information and Transport Sharjeel Inam Memon attended the conference as the chief guest.
Addressing the conference, Memon said our entire system had reached a point where real issues were no longer discussed, and most media and TV channels remained focused on political topics and fruitless debates.
He said public discourse had become limited to mutual accusations and insults, whereas the conference was addressing an important issue that affected the life and work of every individual.
He appreciated the Association of Consulting Engineers for raising the important matter of determining responsibility in the event of accidents and natural disasters.
He said that while the government had its own responsibilities, engineers, builders and other stakeholders also shared the responsibility in some disasters. He added that being addressed as an engineer after a long time was an honour for him.
He asked whether it was appropriate to place all the responsibility solely on the government when laws existed but they were not properly implemented.
Memon said there were clear laws for constructing houses and plazas, and soil testing was mandatory before construction, but these requirements were often ignored. He pointed out that serious issues such as water and sewage leakage were found in many buildings and must be rectified in a timely manner.
He said engineering colleges and universities should also focus on professional training and quality education.
Referring to the Gul Plaza tragedy, he questioned how many floors the owner had illegally constructed and why the building was not built according to the approved plan. He said that about 4,000 people were present in the building at the time of the fire, and eighty people lost their lives.
He added that the causes of the tragedy had been identified and although initial responsibility lied with the government, all stakeholders, including civil society, must ensure strict implementation of the law.
Speaking to the media after his address, the information minister said he was praying for the health of former prime minister Imran Khan.
He remarked that not everyone could be Asif Ali Zardari who served 14 years in prison.
