Buildings sans public safety

The construction of emergency exit ways is mandatory in buildings exist but they are not being implemented

Government officials have made astonishing disclosures before the Sindh High Court with regard to public safety in residential and commercial buildings. The director general of the Sindh Building Control Authority informed the court during a recent hearing that rules making the construction of emergency exit ways mandatory in buildings exist in the statute books, but they are not being implemented. An emergency phone helpline had been set up at the Karachi Commissioner Office to address fire incidents and other such happenings, but now it has been deactivated. On a query from the court, the officer’s representative said the IT service too was dysfunctional in the commissioner’s office and this had rendered the helpline non-functional; now all work in this office was being done manually.

The judges felt displeased over the delay in repair of KMC fire tenders. They expressed annoyance over the prevailing state of affairs at government offices, and instructed officials to do the needful. The court was hearing a petition relating to fire incidents and legislation for emergency exits in buildings, in view of the increasing fire incidents in Karachi and deaths occurring because people cannot come out of buildings on fire due the absence of emergency exits. The lack of proper facilities also hinders fire-fighting operations and makes it difficult to rescue those trapped in the fire. The court instructed relevant officials to prepare SOPs in consultation with the fire department.

A few days ago, a fire in a factory killed three workers and injured several others mainly due to the absence of emergency exits and other facilities in the factory building. The large number of deaths and injuries in the 2012 Baldia factory fire were also caused due to the lack of proper exit facilities. Such shortcomings come to light after most incidents of blaze. But the grave issue remains unaddressed due to official complacency. Officials admit that laws exist but the issue is their implementation. What is the use of laws when they are not implemented?

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2021.

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