Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting, issuing directives to all provincial departments to complete reviews of fire safety arrangements at all public places, buildings and institutions under their administrative control and submit signed compliance certificates within 15 days.
Following the tragic deaths of 14 infants at Islamabad’s Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), various governments have started efforts to ensure proper fire safety mechanisms in their jurisdictions. Earlier, Islamabad and the Punjab governments had similarly directed measures to ensure healthcare institutions were adequately equipped against a potential disaster.
During the meeting, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) officials informed the chief secretary that 3,354 buildings had been identified and audited for fire safety across the province. These comprise 798 buildings in Karachi Division, 1,287 in Hyderabad Division, 420 in Larkana Division, 129 in Mirpurkhas Division, 418 in Shaheed Benazirabad Division and 302 in Sukkur Division.
Referring to past fire incidents, Shah said that timely safety measures, trained staff and well-organized evacuation plans could significantly reduce loss of life and property. “Fire safety is an ongoing responsibility and cannot be limited to a one-time inspection,” he stressed.
The chief secretary directed all administrative departments and divisional commissioners to ensure full compliance in every facility, with special priority for public places, government buildings, commercial centers, shopping malls, markets, prisons, hospitals, teaching hospitals, industrial facilities, schools, colleges, hostels, child protection institutions, Darul Amans, orphanages and bus terminals. He said special safety measures and workable emergency evacuation arrangements must be ensured in institutions housing children, women, patients, students, prisoners and other vulnerable groups.
Separately, the Sindh Health Care Commission (SHCC) directed healthcare establishments across the province to ensure full compliance with the commission’s prescribed standards for fire safety, emergency preparedness and disaster readiness.
“The SHCC will now conduct surprise inspections and monitoring visits across Sindh, without prior notification, to assess the actual level of compliance with the prescribed safety standards,” according to a spokesperson of the commission.
Further, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and the Sindh Employees Social Security Institution have also issued fire safety directives to all health facilities operating under their administrative control.