Staff Report
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Imran Khan has advised to formulate standard on the pattern of Dubai, Hong Kong and New York regarding height of the high-rise building located near to the airports of the country.
Well-informed disclosed NewsLite that following the advice of premier Imran Khan, a high-level ministerial committee will furnish recommendations for removal of restrictions on construction of high-rise buildings on the pattern of Dubai, Hong Kong and New York.
As per details, PM Imran Khan, in a meeting of the federal cabinet held on September 30, 2021, has pointed out that it had been brought to his knowledge that despite the cabinet’s decision to dispense with the requirement of NOC from Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Pakistan Air Force (PAF), the practice was still in vogue. Similarly, premier also advised to formulate standard regarding height of the high-rise building located within 15 kilometers from any side of the airports of the country on the pattern of Dubai, Hong Kong and New York. And, this ministerial committee, after taking input of the relevant stakeholders (builders, developers, Ministry of Defence, PAF etc), would present a report/recommendation to the federal cabinet in this regard.
According to sources, the cabinet held on 30th September, after detailed discussion, decided that the committee constituted on August 9, 2021 with the addition of Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, Minister for Science & Technology and Special Assistant to the prime Minister on National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination would submit a report/recommendations about: (i) removing impediments in shifting from NOC regime to compliance regime in matter of Aviation laws/rules in this regard;(ii) identifying and rectifying problems faced by developers/builders in this regard;(iii) reviewing international standards, while taking into account the examples of Hong Kong, Dubai and New York. Similarly, Aviation Division would provide secretariat support to the committee and Omar Ayub Khan, Minister for Economic Affairs shall continue as the member of the committee. Likewise, Ministry of Defence would submit a report on measures proposed/underway/taken to encourage high rises in cantonment limits. More, Ministry of Housing would submit a report after getting inputs from provincial governments on height restrictions in cities/ towns with analysis of these restrictions and what measures can the provincial governments take to encourage high rises with a spirit to reduce horizontal expansion and pressure on conversion of agricultural/farming land as such unplanned and rapid conversion is a threat to food security of the country. Furthermore, the cabinet acceded to the request of Secretary Aviation Division and directed him to present the report on “Aviation Policy its implementation status, highlighting any deviations (if made) and the reasons thereof” within two weeks, said sources.
The sources also informed that a visual illustration of Civil Aviation Rule – 6g (Obstacle Limitation surface) was also presented during the course of cabinet meeting held on September 30, 2021. And, it was highlighted that the 4 km area surrounding the runway was called “Inner Horizontal” which had the building height restriction of 147 ft. The 2km surrounding the Inner Horizontal was called ‘Conical’, with height limitation of 147ft to 476ft depending on the distance from runway and the 9 km area beyond the conical and 15 km from the runway, was outer horizontal, with height restriction of 492ft. The Services International Hotel, Lahore, was located in the conical area and as per the formula, the height restriction of 245ft was determined.
