This publication discusses earthquake risk reduction in Pakistan and its relationship to building codes, building regulation, and structural engineering.

Part 1 reviews the status of building codes and bylaws, with a focus on the 2007 Building Code of Pakistan or BCP. The BCP represents Pakistan's first nationwide policy for earthquake-resistant construction. While its publication in 2007 was an essential step forward, this report shows that local building regulations, or bylaws, still do not cite it and are not coordinated with it. Further, the BCP's effectiveness is limited by pre-existing challenges in the implementation of most bylaws. Even where it is adopted and enforced, the BCP applies only to new construction. Part 2 of this publication discusses earthquake risk reduction more generally, considering also the status and opportunities related to building inventory, repair, loss estimation, and retrofit, especially for the existing building stock and for the many small or vernacular structures typically exempt from building bylaws. In many parts of the country, valuable work was done after the 2005 earthquake to understand the existing building stock, and this work should be continued. In the major cities, certain vulnerable structure types deserve similar attention. Nevertheless, in the cities where development and building replacement is rampant, retrofit seems less important and less effective than implementing the BCP on the new construction. There are more opportunities to avoid adding to the risk than to reduce existing risk.

Finally, Part 3 offers a set of recommendations based on the findings in Parts 1 and 2. The technical recommendations involve building code updates and continuation of inventory and retrofit studies. Just as important, however, are the less technical recommendations involving professional development for engineers and regulatory procedures for building officials.