Fire incidents prompt safety measures

Following recent tragic incidents in Murree where two passenger vehicles caught fire resulting in deaths due to burns, authorities in the Rawalpindi Division have made it mandatory for all public transport vehicles to install modern fire extinguishing equipment and provide separate emergency exit doors.

The directive applies to all buses, wagons, coasters and Suzuki vans operating on intra-city and long-distance routes.

Regional Transport Authority, Rawalpindi Traffic Police and Civil Defence teams have been instructed to conduct strict monitoring, impose heavy fines and impound vehicles not complying with safety requirements.

According to the Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi, Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema, the safety of passengers is the government's top priority and no compromise will be made on this issue.

He said fire extinguishers and emergency exits must be installed in all vehicles, and those failing to comply will not be allowed to operate.

He added that inspection teams have been formed to begin checking vehicles from Monday, June 29.

These teams will carry out roadside inspections and enforcement actions.

Officials said instructions have been issued by both the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner for strict implementation of the safety measures across all routes in the division.