THE construction sector has undergone a dynamic transformation over the past few years. Gone are the days when it took years to complete a project because the modes of construction were outdated and inefficient.

The reliance was on the rule-of-thumb estimation of the mason or the supervisor. The shuttering was a hotchpotch of uneven and overused wooden planks nailed together. There was hardly any futuristic vision in presenting attractive designs and facade of buildings.

Gradually, a new breed of developers and builders made their way into the sector. A new thinking evolved and is now evident in the modernistic high rise residential and commercial complexes; optimal utilisation of efficient machinery and equipment; employing adequately trained skill workforce; presenting sophisticated advertisements and publicity profiles; and ensuring that all inputs and items are of state-of-the-art quality.

Pakistan is financially starved of resources and faces a menacing unemployment scenario. The construction industry can be the game changer. It is imperative to optimise resources and use them safely, effectively and efficiently

All of these have made a difference between what are standard construction methods of today and the rough and ready modes that were practiced for decades.

The construction industry is not just building apartments or plazas. It encompasses a whole gamut of sectors, including physical infrastructure such as road network, ports, airports, dams, energy utilities, and social infrastructure, like educational institutions and medical facilities.

Efficiency, both in time and money, is crucial. With costs escalating frequently, the emphasis is on quality, affordability, and delivery. It is with these factors in perspective that the builders and developers depend on fast-track and proper supply of raw material as well as the availability of equipment and manpower.

Ready-to-use concrete facility has become essential not only for large projects but also for a host of medium-sized endeavours. The cement mills and large construction companies have collaborated to provide this service. A construction company can order concrete as per the requirements of the project, thus ensuring the usage of prescribed specifications such as strength, durability, versatility, affordability, and efficiency.

Another benefit is that many materials have no damaging effect on concrete. Moreover, concrete producers actually provide an extra yield margin to make sure they aren’t short-changing their customers.

Using quality assured concrete gives more strength to mega projects such as dams, bridges, tunnels, and high-rise structures. Moisture and mould do not impact negatively, while concrete structures are safe from natural disasters like earthquakes or hurricanes. Concrete is also fire-resistant, and this is crucial because fire incidents have destroyed many structures in Pakistan.

Concrete is transported through specific vehicles, which are affordable and within proximity of the concrete-supplying plant.

It is in the transportation of concrete in the country that the ruinous impact is evidently visible and blatantly harmful. The standard operating procedures manifest strict control over the vehicle and its equipment, and it is mandatory that safety features are installed and implemented. Lack of controls, sloppy monitoring, and the casual mindset of the vehicle operators have been detrimental to roads as well as to people and property.

It is obligatory on the plant managers as well as the vehicle operators to ensure that concrete granular material does not spit out of the high resistance mixing steel drum during transportation, as this becomes a major road hazard and instantly damages the road surface.

It has been observed on Karachi’s roads that the vehicle operator seldom closes the latch properly on the tank, and thus concrete is spit out at every junction, speed breaker or bump during transportation. After the discharging of the concrete, it is mandatory to rotate the tanks in the opposite direction so that the residual granules do not remain inside the tank and find their way out.

These residual granules fall on the roads, resulting in visible damage to the road’s surface. Moreover, these granules can become lethal like bullets if fast-moving traffic moves over them, as these can fly in various directions and become injurious to the health of the people or damage property along the roads. Since there are no laid down rules for safety assurance or material movement, the ensuing consequences are, and can be, dangerous.

It is proposed that the competent authorities, in consultation with the Pakistan Engineering Council, the Association of Builders and Developers, the All Pakistan Construction Association, the traffic police and transportation experts and consultants develop a code of conduct to ensure safe handling and transportation of concrete from plants to the construction sites.

Pakistan is on its way to witnessing massive construction activity, especially with the advent of projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The country is also poised to commence huge low-cost housing projects. Therefore, the rules must be stringent, ensured and implemented

Moving into the next phase of the construction boom requires changing the mindset and the elimination of shoddy practices and nonchalant attitudes. Pakistan is financially starved of resources and faces a menacing unemployment scenario. The construction industry can be the game changer. Today’s construction industry is increasingly challenging in economic, social and environmental terms. It is imperative to optimise resources and use them safely, effectively and efficiently.

The stakeholders must now get their act together. It is necessary to run an effective and efficient transport mechanism to ensure that the concrete reaches its final destination, is properly discharged, and the journey is hazard-free because lives matter more than the construction projects. Don Allen Holbrook, a world renowned economist, advised that “Change is inevitable, but progress is optional.”

The writer is a former president of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

majydaziz@gmail.com

Published in Dawn, Economic & Business, July 6th, 2015

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