LAHORE: LAHORE: The Directorate of Civil Defence Punjab has ordered a province-wide fresh survey of air raid shelters, saying the previous exercise conducted in May 2025 was inadequate in scope and safety standards.
An official directive, available with Daily Jang, instructs all Deputy Commissioners acting as Civil Defence Controllers to immediately begin identifying, inspecting, and shortlisting suitable shelter sites in their districts. The order has been circulated to divisional commissioners and the Home Department for strict compliance.
Citing Rule 16 of the Civil Defence (Special Powers) Rules, 1951, the directive requires district administrations to identify underground or covered spaces such as basements, malls, plazas, and parking areas, as well as open spaces for possible trench excavation. Officials said the earlier survey failed to meet the requirement that shelter capacity cover at least 3% of urban populations and lacked proper safety standards.
The new guidelines emphasize reinforced structures capable of withstanding blast effects, multiple exits, ventilation systems, backup power, sanitation, fire safety systems, and emergency communication facilities. Sites must be accessible, GPS-mapped, and properly signposted at a later stage.
District committees including Assistant Commissioners, Civil Defence Officers, and local government and building department representatives will oversee the process. Detailed proformas require data on structure type, capacity, ownership, safety features, accessibility, and coordinates for covered sites, while open spaces must include area and trench potential. Photographic documentation is mandatory.
All districts must complete the survey within seven days and submit reports to the Directorate of Civil Defence Punjab. The move reflects renewed efforts to strengthen civil defence preparedness amid emerging security concerns.
