In the wake of the recent deadly fire that erupted in high-rise residential buildings in Hong Kong, where despite the presence of modern fire-fighting equipment, sophisticated alarm systems, emergency response teams and strict building safety regulations, at least 128 precious lives have tragically been lost — it becomes painfully clear how vulnerable cities like Karachi are, where even basic infrastructure is fragile, outdated and grossly insufficient.
If, God forbid, a similar incident was to occur in Karachi where 62-floor skyscrapers are already standing tall and many more are under construction, the consequences could be unimaginably catastrophic.
The city lacks modern fire tenders capable of reaching extreme heights, its hydrant systems are unreliable, fire stations are poorly distributed and under-funded, elevators in most buildings are not fire-rated, emergency exits are often blocked or poorly designed, and enforcement of safety codes remains weak.
This leaves millions of residents exposed to life-threatening danger. We must urgently reform, modernise and rigorously implement its fire safety systems before an avoidable disaster turns our upcoming skyscraper-filled skyline into a graveyard of innocent people.
Mumraiz Khan
Karachi
