Civil Defence remains quiescent

Lack of funding, volunteers stalled emergency relief operations of department

KARACHI:

Responsible citizens regularly filing their taxes carry the rudimentary expectation that their hard-earned money would be utilized in a way which benefits them and their fellow locals however, as crucial rescue and emergency departments like the Civil Defense remain in a state of dormancy for decades, taxpayers’ willingness towards contributing to their country’s reserves, shrivels.

Constructed in Karachi almost five decades ago, the Civil Defense Department, was well known for its expansive emergency alert system, which through the help of volunteers and sirens, warned people of impending dangers like war and natural disasters, alongside informing them of Sehr and Iftar timings during Ramadan.

Unfortunately however, the emergency training and alert issuing department has been in an inactive and dilapidated condition since the past three decades, due to a paucity of funding and volunteers, which has not only stalled the conduct of basic training sessions for firefighting, first aid, and bomb disposal across various offices, hospitals, schools, and factories but has also delayed the basic maintenance of the facility.

“The Civil Defense Department has several important responsibilities, which include visiting streets, neighbourhoods, schools, offices, and industries to give emergency response training, install firefighting equipment, and do follow-up inspections. However, the department has failed to perform its expected duties and manage its operations for a while now,” asserted Qazi Sadaruddin, Deputy Parliamentary Leader of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC).

According to sources privy to the Express Tribune, the only two control rooms of the Civil Defense Department have been dysfunctional for a long time, while major areas of the city including Korangi, Malir and Kemari have no offices at all. Moreover, even when a district office of the department is accessible it usually has no on-duty employees. Surprisingly enough, for a population of 55 million, only 308 employment opportunities exist in the Civil Defense Department, out of which 111 are occupied while the remaining 197 are vacant, due either to the death or retirement of existing staff, who are not replaced by newer recruits. In addition to the lack of volunteers, the siren system too has been out of order since 1990, when it was heard for the very last time.

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“As per the provisions of the Fire Safety Act of 2016, the Civil Defense Department is tasked with operating the emergency alert and rescue system therefore it must oversee the installation of emergency exits, fire extinguishing devices, and other equipment in high-rise buildings and other industries, alongside providing basic rescue and relief training to volunteers,” emphasized Seed Jadoon, an expert on fire safety, who further concluded that most buildings in the city were constructed without any fire safety arrangements.

Expanding on the problem, Tariq Moin, Director of the Fire Protection Association of Pakistan, shed light on the fact that the Civil Defense Department faced a serious shortage of competent staff, which was aware of the safety concerns and demands of the urban setting.

“Although the institution is facing a shortage of funds and staff, our staff are performing all their duties,” rebutted Safdar Ali Bughio, Director of Sindh Civil Defense, who claimed that his team conducts training sessions at schools and other institutions.

Backing Saeed’s stance, other officials from the department also felt that these days very few citizens were interested in volunteering. “Only 200 volunteers are present in Karachi today,” added the official. In order to address this very problem, the Punjab government has set a daily honorarium of Rs1230 for attracting new volunteers and keeping the old ones active, setting precedent for the Sindh government to follow through.

Speaking to the Express Tribune on the matter, Beenish Shabir, Additional Director at the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) said, “A joint committee survey is being conducted regarding fire safety in new and old buildings on the directions of the Commissioner of Karachi. In this regard, the Fire Safety Act of 2016 will be implemented.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 16^th, 2024.