International Code Council partners with the Pakistan Engineering Council to develop the Building Code of Pakistan

The International Code Council, the world’s largest developer of model building codes and standards, and the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC), a regulatory body of engineering profession and engineering education, jointly announced the successful development of the Building Code of Pakistan (BCP 2021). Based on the 2021 International Building Code (IBC), BCP 2021 will provide minimum benchmarks for the structural safety of building design, construction, operation, practices and installation of allied building systems in Pakistan.

The Code Council and PEC’s Think Tank Department share a history of holding various international development agreements since July 2017, working towards the overall development of the Building Code of Pakistan to be based on the 2021 IBC. The PEC Think Tank Department plays a significant role in developing building codes, engineering standards, national policies and development plans for the country. In a span of two years, the PEC Task Force completed the BCP 2021. The Code Council and PEC officially signed the international publishing agreement on BCP 2021 this past August.

Professor Sarosh Hashmat Lodi, convener, PEC Task Force on Development of BCP 2021, said, “ICC’s and PEC’s long-term partnership since 2005 now has opened new avenues for the development of BCP 2021, which ensures advanced construction practices in Pakistan.”

Engineer Muhammad Najeeb Haroon MNA, chairman, PEC, said, “Professor Lodi and his team have played a vital role in the development of BCP [2021]. He also recognized the importance of the professional working relationship between ICC and PEC during the last five years, which involved the dedicated hard work of Mr. Mark Johnson, executive vice president and director of business development at the International Code Council; Dr. Ashfaq Ahmed Sheikh, additional registrar; and Mr. Faiz ul Sibtain, project coordinator, PEC, in development of BCP 2021”. Engr. Dr. Nasir Mahmood Khan, secretary, PEC, added that PEC would further strengthen the professional working relationship with ICC.

“We are pleased to continue our long-standing global partnership with the Pakistan Engineering Council,” said Mark Johnson. “The BCP 2021 contains significant advancements in building safety and is a landmark achievement that reflects Pakistan’s commitment in furthering the advancement of building safety in the country.”

A ceremony celebrating the launch of the BCP 2021 will take place in December 2021. The PEC has planned to arrange a national-level workshop for the successful launching of BCP 2021 in collaboration with the World Bank (Pakistan). In addition, PEC also planned to organize professional training courses on design, practice, application and implementation of BCP 2021 for capacity building of authorities having jurisdiction for effective implementation of the code in Pakistan.

For more information on BCP 2021, please visit http://www.pec.org.pk.