Following the 2006 earthquake in the north of Pakistan, The Citizens Foundation, a large educational non profit organisation, started a programme of building seismically sound school buildings in the region. Set on deep foundations of stone or concrete blocks set in cement or lime mortar the structures are built of imported galvanized steel C channels clad in wood fiber cement board that is fire resistant and has insulating properties. Economical local materials such as chakwal stone were also used. Since deforestation is a big issue in the area, wood was used only sparingly; and since skilled labour was in short supply, the project trained local craftsmen in earthquake resistant building technologies.
Source:
The Aga Khan Trust for Culture, 2011.
