Most high-rise buildings lack fire safety

ISLAMABAD:

In the wake of the devastating fire incident at Gul Plaza in Karachi, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has completed a preliminary survey of fire safety arrangements in public and private buildings across the federal capital to prevent similar incidents.

The survey revealed alarming findings, disclosing that nearly 70 per cent of Islamabad's 6,500 high-rise buildings lack any functional fire safety and hazard control system. Responsibility for this situation lies with the CDA's Building Control Cell and Planning Wing. However, the CDA has now issued notices to the owners of such buildings.

According to the survey, more than 70 per cent of buildings have neither obtained approval for their fire safety plans nor acquired completion certificates for fire safety from the CDA. During the exercise, 300 government buildings were also inspected.

The survey report was presented during a meeting chaired by Islamabad Chief Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa. The meeting was attended by CDA Board Member Administration Talat Mahmood, Member Planning and Design Dr Khalid Hafeez, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Irfan Nawaz Memon, Director General Building and Housing Control, Director General Islamabad Capital Emergency Services and other relevant officials.

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had directed the CDA to conduct an immediate survey of all buildings in Islamabad with regard to fire safety and hazard control. Following these instructions, the CDA Chairman issued directives to Capital Emergency Services, the Building and Housing Control Wing, and other concerned departments to complete the survey without delay.

It was decided in the meeting that building owners and occupants would be instructed to submit fire safety and hazard control certificates to the relevant offices of the CDA's Building and Housing Control Wing within 15 days.