Civil Defence bans LPG decanting in urban areas

Programme designed to provide fire safety, medical training to citizens

RAWALPINDI: The Civil Defence Department has placed a ban on decanting LPG cylinders in the urban areas of the district. The decision includes all licenced and unlicenced gas filling including gas filling in agencies and shops.

In a letter sent to the administration of different civic bodies in the district including Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation, Rawalpindi Cantonment Board, Chaklala Cantonment Board and District Council, it has been directed to move filling agencies out of urban areas.

The crackdown against such agencies will begin on March 1 in which LPG decanting shops located in residential areas will be sealed under section 138 of local government law.

According to the official documents, there are around 138 licensed gas fillings agencies in the district while as many as 746 unlicensed gas filling agencies are operating illegally.

These open arsenal depots are largely operating in numerous areas including Kashmiri Bazaar, Dhoke Ratta, Ratta Amral, Dhoke Hassu, Gawalmandi, Pirwadhai Bangash Colony, Pirwadhai Road, Adyala Road, Dhamial Road, Rehmatabad as well as Dhoke Elahi Baksh.

A minor mistake can cause serious damage in colossal gas cylinders.

Civil Defence District Officer Talib Hussain confirmed that a big operation against illegal and urban operated gas agencies was being launched on the directions of the deputy commissioner.

He informed that notices were being sent directly to the agencies to shift outside urban premises or else such agencies, who neglect the orders, will be sealed after February 28.

Medical training

The Civil Defense Department (CDD) has designed a programme to provide basic medical training to citizens.



The training will be given at the union council level while it will teach people first aid, making safe escapes from fire sites and prevention of fire incidents.

The approval for this programme was given in the meeting of Ward Officers of CDD at CDD office in Rawalpindi.

Senior instructors Sajid Minhas and Sadaf Zahoor will monitor the instructional training.

Furthermore, District Officer Civil Defence Talib Hussain has directed the instructors to form groups of youngsters in every union council to train them about firefighting.

Meanwhile, the ladies’ instructors will provide basic training to women which they can utilise in their homes. The Rawalpindi city and cantonment areas have been dissolved into various circles to easily carry out this campaign.

Further, Talib Hussain has directed citizens to turn off gas heaters and stoves to avoid any mishap while he urged citizens to avoid gas sucking motors.

The decision of the campaign was made after the death of a family of five due to a gas cylinder blast at New Town. The campaign is set to commence from March 1.

CDD statistics

The statistics of CDD during the month of January have been released. Collectively 234 buildings, plazas, petrol pumps, and petroleum agencies were inspected during the last month.

Around 83 buildings, CNG stations, and petrol pumps were fined Rs137,000 by CDD over the non-installation of fire equipment.

Furthermore, some 101 owners were sent notices over the absence of fire safety measures.

The CDD recorded statements as a state witness in 19 different explosive cases while it also diffused 11 dangerous detonators in January.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 8^th, 2019.