Karachi is playing with fire

Karachi’s largest industrial area has one fire tender for 4,000 factories

KARACHI:

One of the largest industrial areas in the country, SITE, has a single fire station with only one functional fire tender at its disposal to cater to more than 4,000 factories established at this location.

Sprawled on 5,000 acres, the SITE area exports goods worth billions of rupees and generates revenue of hundreds of millions for the exchequer. Unfortunately, fire safety arrangements are not of a standard that reflects the industrial area’s importance. In fact, it is a catastrophe in waiting.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, SITE Association of Industry (SAI) Chairman Abdul Hadi said that the area is a disaster with regard to fire incidents. “From October 1 to December 14, 2020, 47 fire-related incidents occurred. No casualties were reported, but they caused a financial loss of between Rs700 million to Rs800 million.”

He said that the industries located in the SITE area have independent fire-fighting services, but these are inadequate to deal with big blazes. He added that most of the industries produce or process fire-prone commodities including cotton, cotton thread and chemicals.

“The timely arrival of fire tenders, say within 15 to 20 minutes, can help stop the spread of fire. The shortage of fire tenders causes a delay and leads to losses. The factories dealing in exports are required by their buyers to maintain fool-proof fire safety arrangements. Apart from an inspection conducted by a third party, the buyers personally pay surprise visits to inspect the factories.”

Refuting rumours that fire incidents were planned for insurance fraud, Hadi said that the management of these factories in a personal capacity had improved the fire-fighting capabilities after the Baldia tragedy.

“Factory owners and/or investors set up a factory to make returns. A fire can stop production activities for several months, causing the owners to lose potential customers. Therefore, no business owner would plan a fire incident for a meager and questionable benefit.”

The SAI chairperson welcomed the Centre’s recent decision to give Karachi fire tenders. He said new fire tenders would be given to seven industrial areas of Karachi, which would be maintained by the industrial areas’ associations.

“The FB Area and North Karachi industrial areas are equipped with two fire tenders each. The SITE association being a much larger one should be given at least six fire tenders.”

Lax safety measures

According to Chief Fire Officer Muhammad Mubeen, nearly 90 per cent factories not only lack basic fire-fighting arrangements but their staff has no training to deal with fires.

Mere possession of fire extinguishing equipment is not enough, he said, adding that factory staff needs to be trained, and there should be regular practical demonstrations of putting out fires and conducting emergency evacuation drills.

“Many of the industrial units and factories do not have emergency exits. The buildings are not designed in a manner to facilitate fire tenders’ easy and quick access, and they do not have central fire alarms. This factor significantly multiplies the damage caused by the fires.”

CFO Mubeen added that on court orders, legislation in this regard is being done in Sindh. “The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) will withold approval to start operation in a factory if it is not designed to effectively deal with an emergency situation.”

He added that the fire brigade officials will inspect industries and only then will they receive approval.

Meanwhile, former chairperson of Korangi Association of Trade and Industry, Sheikh Omar Rehan, said that at least two major fire incidents occurred in Korangi last year. Fire tenders from various areas of the city had to be summoned to put out the fire.

Commenting on the recommendation to let the SBCA supervise the fire rescue arrangements in the industrial areas, Rehan said that the fire brigade in Karachi should be entrusted with the task as it is their job. “Supervision of one institution by another institution would create unnecessary hurdles.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^st, 2021.