Karachi timber market fire

Leaving aside the finger-pointing that so typifies politics in Pakistan, there are a number of matters surrounding the disastrous fire in Karachi’s timber market that has destroyed many livelihoods — but fortunately no lives. Where blame can be portioned it could lie in the regulatory process being imperfectly implemented, workplace inspections not carried out with due diligence and the city planning division that allowed such a concentration of high-risk business in such a confined area. As to the competencies or otherwise of the fire department, caution needs to be exercised. Fire services in Pakistan fall below benchmark standards measured globally, and Karachi is no exception. Underfunded, often poorly equipped and required to fight fire in an urban environment that has approaches blocked by encroachments and unsafe planning decisions, the fire services are on a hiding to nothing. There have been accusations of political issues relating to the response time, and it is impossible to know how true they are — but the fire service as with every other service in Karachi has long suffered from political interference. Unfortunate as the fire in the timber market was, it was also an accident waiting to happen. Where cities are allowed to grow in a poorly regulated manner without the necessary checks and balances and infrastructure provision, then fires such as this will occur on a cyclic basis. The ultimate responsibility for this state of affairs lies with the city and provincial authorities, which have done little to enhance the city’s infrastructure.

Even so, the calls for compensation from those who have lost their businesses do not seem completely reasonable. There is no reason at all why the government should compensate anybody unless they can prove that they carried insurance cover that is not paid out on, had fire precautions in place in their business and had a proven record of tax payment. While it may be the government’s responsibility to develop the city’s infrastructure, including its fire services, businesses and individuals cannot absolve themselves of all responsibility either as fire safety measures are often not implemented in residential and commercial properties. The fire in Karachi is truly a case of collective failure, both on the part of the authorities and citizens.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 30^th, 2014.

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