Hazardous job: Firefighters try to douse a fire at a detergent factory in Karachi’s SITE Area on Tuesday. Photo: NNI
ISLAMABAD:
Despite directives issued by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif following the devastating fire at the H-9 weekly bazaar two years ago, the departments and agencies concerned failed to effectively implement mandatory monthly fire safety audits of all markets, commercial centres and shopping malls in the federal capital, official documents and sources have revealed.
The apparent failure of the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI), the Capital Development Authority (CDA), the District Administration and the District Management Administration (DMA) to enforce these measures has once again come under scrutiny after another fire incident at the H-9 weekly bazaar.
According to official sources, following the major fire at the DMA-managed H-9 weekly bazaar on July 10 2024, the PM’s Office ordered stringent remedial measures to strengthen fire prevention and emergency preparedness across the federal capital’s commercial areas.
A formal communication issued by the PM’s Office on July 22, 2024 stated that, after reviewing the inquiry report into the incident, the PM directed the CDA and the MCI to conduct comprehensive fire safety audits of all mercantile bazaars in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) during the first week of every month.
The directive stipulated that the audits should be carried out in accordance with the Islamabad Fire Prevention and Life Safety Regulations, 2010, as well as internationally recognised fire safety standards.
The inspections were to cover fire escape routes, fire extinguishers, electrical wiring, storage of flammable materials, emergency response training and the operational status of fire hydrants.
The communication further instructed that all deficiencies identified during the audits should be rectified without delay through the relevant departments. Progress on corrective measures was to be reported regularly to the Ministry of Interior.
The premier also directed the CDA and the MCI to launch comprehensive training programmes for firefighting personnel, procure essential firefighting equipment and ensure its regular maintenance.
In addition, the authorities were instructed to prepare a comprehensive plan for establishing an emergency rescue service across the Islamabad Capital Territory. Copies of the directive were forwarded to the Secretary, Ministry of Interior, and the Chief Commissioner Islamabad, who also serves as Chairman of the CDA.
Repeated attempts to contact the Director of the DMA for comment were unsuccessful. However, a senior official, while confirming the authenticity of the PM’s directive, told The Express Tribune that critical fire safety infrastructure remains absent not only at the H-9 Weekly Bazaar but also at the G-6 Weekly Bazaar.
The official disclosed that neither market has been equipped with functional fire hydrants, smoke detection systems, dedicated water points, tube wells, automatic fire sprinkler systems or fire detection mechanisms for stalls and shops, despite the passage of two years since the PM’s directives were issued.
