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Afghanistan Lacks
Construction Code
The Ministry of Commerce and Industries on Saturday that Afghanistan lacks a practice
code for construction and that codes from other nations are being used in the country.
The Ministry said construction based on a proper code ensures safety of
buildings in the country.
Dr Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, Head of transition commission said that more
than 70% of buildings in Afghanistan are built illegally without observing
any standards.
Each country has its own construction code which determines type of the
buildings, safety, resistance, drainage, view, number of floors, description
of materials and even colour of buildings, but unfortunately due to lack of a
construction code most of the buildings in Afghanistan are not built based
on standards.
According to the Ministry when building codes are used in Afghanistan and
the road and drainages are made based on codes, most of the buildings will
be destroyed.
"The buildings constructed without considering construction codes are not
based on standards and will be reviewed at anytime, they do not even
match the general view of the city," Mohammad Qurban Haqjo, CEO of
Chamber of Commerce said.
"We have strangled our cities, today even 10% of needed facilities are not
available in most cities of Afghanistan. We ourselves have strangled Kabul,
70% of the buildings in Afghanistan are illegal," Dr Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai,
Head of Transition Commission said.
But the Norms and Standards Department says that a construction code is
being worked out with the help of foreign experts and it will be finished in
one year. The codes will then be available for construction companies.
According to Afghan Norms and Standards Department the building codes
for architecture, construction, highways and urban development will be
enforced soon.
"We didn't have codes for construction and roads, the National Norms and
Standard Department is closely working with International experts to
create construction codes in four areas. Afghanistan will have its own
specific codes in one year," said Ehsanullah Niyazi, Director of National
Norms and Standards Department.
Meanwhile, the Construction Companies Union stresses that lack of
construction codes in the country is a hard blow to the country and it will
cause technical and economical problems in the future.
The union says that currently low quality construction materials are being
imported to Afghanistan and it's the Norms and Standard Department's
responsibility to stop it.
"If there are no codes, it will be very difficult in the future. The Japanese
and Germans are using different codes, there should be codes for each
system." Naim Yasin, Head Construction Companies Union said.
But the Norms and Standards Department stresses that after a
construction code is introduced, construction materials' will be created
based on accepted standards and the quality of construction materials will
monitored.
According to the Norms and Standards Department most of the buildings in
the country may be destroyed when the construction codes are practised.
Construction Code
The Ministry of Commerce and Industries on Saturday that Afghanistan lacks a practice
code for construction and that codes from other nations are being used in the country.
The Ministry said construction based on a proper code ensures safety of
buildings in the country.
Dr Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, Head of transition commission said that more
than 70% of buildings in Afghanistan are built illegally without observing
any standards.
Each country has its own construction code which determines type of the
buildings, safety, resistance, drainage, view, number of floors, description
of materials and even colour of buildings, but unfortunately due to lack of a
construction code most of the buildings in Afghanistan are not built based
on standards.
According to the Ministry when building codes are used in Afghanistan and
the road and drainages are made based on codes, most of the buildings will
be destroyed.
"The buildings constructed without considering construction codes are not
based on standards and will be reviewed at anytime, they do not even
match the general view of the city," Mohammad Qurban Haqjo, CEO of
Chamber of Commerce said.
"We have strangled our cities, today even 10% of needed facilities are not
available in most cities of Afghanistan. We ourselves have strangled Kabul,
70% of the buildings in Afghanistan are illegal," Dr Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai,
Head of Transition Commission said.
But the Norms and Standards Department says that a construction code is
being worked out with the help of foreign experts and it will be finished in
one year. The codes will then be available for construction companies.
According to Afghan Norms and Standards Department the building codes
for architecture, construction, highways and urban development will be
enforced soon.
"We didn't have codes for construction and roads, the National Norms and
Standard Department is closely working with International experts to
create construction codes in four areas. Afghanistan will have its own
specific codes in one year," said Ehsanullah Niyazi, Director of National
Norms and Standards Department.
Meanwhile, the Construction Companies Union stresses that lack of
construction codes in the country is a hard blow to the country and it will
cause technical and economical problems in the future.
The union says that currently low quality construction materials are being
imported to Afghanistan and it's the Norms and Standard Department's
responsibility to stop it.
"If there are no codes, it will be very difficult in the future. The Japanese
and Germans are using different codes, there should be codes for each
system." Naim Yasin, Head Construction Companies Union said.
But the Norms and Standards Department stresses that after a
construction code is introduced, construction materials' will be created
based on accepted standards and the quality of construction materials will
monitored.
According to the Norms and Standards Department most of the buildings in
the country may be destroyed when the construction codes are practised.
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