Fire safety quandary

15,000 lives are lost annually and financial toll amounts to trillions of rupees

Each year, Karachi witnesses an alarming number of fatal fire incidents occurring in commercial, residential and industrial structures. At the recent National Fire Safety Symposium and Risk-Based Awards, a disconcerting revelation emerged: an alarming 90% of the city’s buildings lack sufficient fire prevention and firefighting systems. The urgency of this issue was tragically underscored by the devastating blaze that occurred in a commercial plaza on Karachi’s Rashid Minhas Road on Saturday. In 2022, a fire engulfed a warehouse within a department store persisting for several hours. These incidents leave the buildings structurally compromised posing a significant safety risk to the building’s residents.

Karachi, undergoing rapid expansion with a surge in concrete structures and high-rise buildings, confronts significant fire hazards. The majority of construction activities in the city neglect crucial fire prevention measures and other essential safety protocols amplifying the threat. Lack of monitoring and regulatory checks results in many builders installing ineffective fire protection systems merely to fulfil “legal formalities”. Unfortunately, during emergencies, these systems often fall short of meeting the necessary safety standards. As a result, 15,000 lives are lost annually and the financial toll amounts to trillions of rupees due to fire incidents.

Even after seven years, the Building Code Fire Safety Prevention, a crucial guideline developed in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority, remains largely unimplemented in Karachi. The neglect of the Sindh Building Control Authority and other regulatory bodies have jeopardised the lives of millions of residents. An immediate imperative is to enforce stringent fire safety measures and establish a legal framework mandating the inclusion of safety equipment in every commercial, residential and industrial structure. Also, a proficient and well-equipped fire department must be established to ensure that personnel are adequately trained to manage fires of varying intensities.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26^th, 2023.

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