Scores of premises sealed for 'poor fire safety'

Court imposes Rs1.565m fines on owners of sealed factories, warehouses

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RAWALPINDI:

The Civil Defence Department Rawalpindi has so far sealed as many as 305 small and large factories, workshops, buildings, and warehouses for not installing firefighting equipment and replace old and faulty electrical wiring, despite prior notices issued at the start of the summer season.

The department, following orders from the Punjab Home Department, had launched a major crackdown against factories, multi-story buildings, warehouses, and shops.

A court dealing the cases has so far imposed fines totaling Rs1.565 million on the owners of sealed shops, factories, and warehouses, and the fines have already been collected.

As summer began, the Home Department and the Director General of Civil Defence Punjab had issued notices requiring all multi-story buildings, factories (including those producing plastic, paper, cardboard, shoes, chemicals, and furniture) to install firefighting equipment within one month.

Notices were also issued to replace old, hanging, and faulty electrical wires and switches to prevent fire hazards caused by short circuits. Those who failed to comply were subjected to this enforcement action.

District Officer Civil Defence, Talib Hussain, said that currently seven teams are conducting the operation across various areas, including Kari Road, Chah Sultan, furniture factories, plastic utensil and chair manufacturing units in Pirodhai, warehouses along Chakri Road, Adiala Road, Dhok Syedan, Circular Road, Rawat, Naz Cinema Road furniture factories, and Bagh Sardaran.

Starting today (Wednesday) the operation's scope will extend to the tehsils of Gujar Khan, Kahuta, and Taxila, he added.

Hussain further said that any warehouse or building where a fire breaks out due to a short circuit or gas cylinder explosion and lacks proper or functional firefighting equipment will be sealed, heavily fined, and will remain closed until the necessary equipment is installed.

"Furthermore, cases have been initiated against those institutions, factories, and warehouses that have only installed firefighting equipment as a mere formality without ensuring their functionality.

Fire incidents tend to increase during the summer, and this ongoing operation aims to control and reduce such occurrences. This enforcement drive will continue until June 30."