WCLA launches monsoon preparedness campaign to ensure safety

LAHORE, Jul 09 (APP): The Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) has launched a comprehensive monsoon preparedness campaign to safeguard public life and protect the historic urban fabric of the Walled City ahead of the rainy season.

According to a WCLA spokesperson, the initiative had been launched in line with the directions of the Punjab government to minimise risks associated with heavy rains and ensure the safety of residents.

As part of the campaign, WCLA had completed a detailed structural survey of buildings across the Walled City to identify unsafe and dilapidated structures posing potential risks during the monsoon season.

Based on the survey findings, notices have been issued to owners of hazardous buildings directing them to immediately undertake the required repair and strengthening of their properties. Owners had also been advised to carry out the repairs at their own expense to ensure the structural safety of their buildings.

The spokesperson said owners who were unable or unwilling to repair unsafe structures had been directed to vacate the buildings immediately to prevent any loss of life or property in case of structural collapse.

Residents and property owners had also been advised to keep rooftops, rainwater drainage systems, gutters and downpipes clean and fully functional throughout the monsoon season to prevent water accumulation, seepage and structural damage.

The authority reiterated that no unauthorised construction, addition of floors, structural alterations, excavation or modifications to heritage buildings or other properties within the Walled City would be allowed without prior approval from the WCLA, as such activities violate heritage conservation regulations and increase structural risks during adverse weather.

WCLA Director General Najmus Saqib said the protection of human life remained the authority’s foremost priority, adding that preventive measures before the onset of the monsoon were essential to minimising risks and ensuring the safety of residents.

He said preserving Lahore’s architectural heritage must go hand in hand with protecting the lives of people living in the centuries-old neighborhoods and urged citizens to cooperate by complying with official notices, carrying out timely repairs, maintaining proper drainage facilities and following all safety instructions.

The WCLA remains committed to implementing the Punjab government’s vision of ensuring public safety, preserving the city’s cultural heritage and adopting proactive disaster risk management measures to reduce the impact of the upcoming monsoon season, he added.