The Karachi administration has launched a crackdown to enforce fire safety rules. Two hundred shops, a commercial plaza and a mobile market have been sealed in two days for not complying with fire safety rules.
On Tuesday Saddar Assistant Commissioner Ghazanfar Perdakh sealed 200 shops in the Hashoo Centre for not employing safety measures. On Monday Ferozabad AC Javeria Ashraf had sealed the Mateen Plaza on Tariq Road for not following fire safety rules.
The East and South deputy commissioners reported to the city commissioner that shops and plazas were sealed for not complying with safety rules despite repeated warnings. Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi directed all DCs and ACs to conduct safety audits and strictly enforce fire safety rules, as the non-complying buildings would be sealed.
A meeting reviewed the ongoing safety audit survey being carried out in all districts. It decided that safety audits be conduct at all commercial and key government and private buildings. ACs will inspect buildings and ensure that safety requirements are met. The commissioner stressed ensuring fire alarms, extinguishers, emergency exits and smoke detectors are in place.
The meeting also decided completing the safety audit survey quickly, and launch a crackdown on non-compliant buildings. Of the 775 buildings audited, 197 are complying partially and 285 substantially.
According to the Korangi DC’s report, the Korangi mobile market in the Landhi subdivision has also been sealed due to non-compliance with fire safety rules. The commissioner ordered the DCs to warn the building owners and associations to follow the fire safety rules, and to seal the buildings if the warnings are repeatedly ignored.
