Addressing a press conference he said that the both project would cost Rs 429 million and Rs 449 million respectively, which include the construction of boys and girls hostels, laboratories and high tech equipment for engineering labs.
He further said that a Continuing Engineering Education Centre would also be established at the estimated cost of Rs 25 million to provide training to in-service engineers to keep them updated with latest engineering trends.
Regarding destruction from the October 8 earthquake, Engineer Gilani said that 70 percent of buildings could have survived it they were properly engineered and constructed based on old building codes.
"No quick-fix solution can help us to find out the permanent solutions," he maintained adding that national building code and then its enforcement for building the infrastructure, before the permanent reconstruction phase begins.
He emphasised the need for an immediate analysis of tectonic maps, fault lines and disseminating this information through media for public awareness.
Citing the example of Turkey, he said that whole Turkey is based on active fault line, but, they are prepared to survive and any kind of disasters, therefore, proper planning is the need of hour.
In this regard, he said, a task force will be formed that would propose the first version of hazard maps to be incorporated into the new earthquake resistant design code.
Based on the recommendations, laid down by international experts from USA, Italy, Slovenia and Turkey on "Earthquake Rehabilitation Conference" organised jointly by UET and Higher Education Commission (HEC) a few days ago, he said that only indigenous technology can help us in reconstructing the houses, buildings of affected areas. Therefore, any external solutions should not be imposed, he added.
Dr Qaiser Ali, first PhD in earthquake engineering, while presenting the technical assessment report on "Seismic Disaster in Pakistan," stressed for the need of involving engineers in the construction phase. Earthquake Engineering Centre being established with HEC will be upgraded to institutional level that will not only provide technical facilities to engineers, organisations, but the Prime Minister has also agreed to get expertise of UET earthquake engineers for formulation of building codes.
He said Peshawar, according to US building codes was placed in Zone 4, a highest seismic risk zone, while after his PhD thesis and analysis, he said, it proved incorrect.
Now, Peshawar, he said is actually placed in Zone 2b, which has also been further proven by the 8/10 disaster, where a single loss did not take place in the City.
He stressed the need to provide accurate information to the public so that they construct houses by looking into these facts.