RAWALPINDI/ LAHORE:
Alarmingly lax fire safety standards have been revealed across major commercial buildings in Punjab following a province-wide inspection launched following the deadly fire at Karachi’s Gul Plaza that killed over 50 people, officials said on Wednesday.
The Punjab Emergency and Rescue Department conducted a fire safety survey and found serious deficiencies in most squares, markets and malls. Of the 2,214 buildings inspected across the province, 1,722 were placed in the lowest ‘D’ security category.
Lahore emerged as the high-risk city in the study. Officials placed 682 buildings across the provincial capital in the ‘D’ category and declared 13 structures completely unsafe for occupation.
The report noted that many of the D-category buildings lacked basic fire safety measures, including fire alarms, sprinkler systems and clearly marked emergency exits.
Authorities warned that such lapses could result in catastrophic loss of life and property in the event of a major fire.
In contrast, only 65 buildings across Punjab met the highest A-class safety standards. A further 129 were classified as B-grade, while 284 fell into the C-grade category.
The findings come in the wake of the Gul Plaza inferno in Karachi, which killed a number of people, including customers, shopkeepers and their staff. Rescue officials said 86 people remain unaccounted for as DNA tests continue to identify the victims whose bodies have been found so far.
In response, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced a comprehensive audit of fire safety systems in all commercial and residential areas as well as high-rise buildings across the province. She stressed for new standard operating procedures (SOPs) and their strict enforcement to avert risks such as electrical short circuits and delayed emergency response.
“Inspections will cover both public and private buildings, including government offices, hospitals, schools and commercial centres,” the chief minister said in a statement, adding that public safety would remain her government’s top priority.
A day earlier, Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique ordered immediate implementation of Building Safety Regulations 2022 across the province. Addressing a meeting at Rescue 1122 headquarters in Lahore, he directed officials to take strict legal action against violators.
During the briefing, emergency services secretary Dr. Rizwan Naseer the participants that surveys of all 2,214 high-rise buildings had been completed. He also outlined plans to expand the fire service to 39 additional tehsils at an estimated cost of Rs2 billion.
Rafique said the initiative was in line with the chief minister’s vision to modernize emergency services, citing the launch of air ambulance operations and improved response systems. He stressed that enforcement of building safety regulations was the ‘need of the hour’ to prevent further loss of life.
Officials said notices would be issued immediately to owners of D-category buildings, requiring mandatory installation of fire safety systems within a fixed time frame. Failure to comply, they warned, would result in fines and legal action.
According to Rescue 1122, Punjab currently operates 281 fire engines with 2,446 trained fire rescue personnel. The service has responded to more than 280,000 fire emergencies and prevented estimated losses of Rs768 billion. Emergency services across the province include over 15,000 first responders, 892 ambulances, 20 lifts and 800 lifeboats.
Authorities reiterated that there would be no compromise on protection of life and property as enforcement of fire safety laws is intensified across Punjab.
Fire safety ordered in Rawalpindi
Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi district administration issued strict directives making modern and functional fire fighting equipment and emergency exits mandatory throughout the district.
The orders apply to all small and large malls, commercial plazas, major factories, chemical and acid production and supply units, cardboard, paper, plastic, furniture factories, apparel units and major markets.
Instructions have been issued to trade organisations, associations, factory owners, site administrations and mall management to immediately install modern fire-fighting equipment and establish emergency exit routes.
The Ministry of Civil Defense was also ordered to conduct a large-scale inspection operation across the district.
Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Hasan Waqar Cheema directed all Area Assistant Commissioners to conduct inspections. The Civil Defense Department will conduct operations and provide training to employees in major shopping malls, commercial plazas and factories in the use of fire fighting equipment and rescue procedures so that rescue work can begin at the local level before the fire brigade or Rescue 1122 arrive.
The Civil Defense will also carry out full inspections of the installed equipment and large fines and requirements will be imposed for the installation of fake or non-functional equipment.
All site owners, commercial centres, major markets, business centres, factories, banks and paper, cardboard, plastic and wood factories have been warned to install fire extinguishing equipment by January 25, 2026.
A crackdown will begin from January 26 with zero tolerance for non-compliance, including heavy fines, challenges and registration of cases.
Deputy Commissioner Hasan Waqar Cheema said the administration’s priority was the complete protection of human life and transparent security, and warned of strict measures against public places with heavy traffic that lack modern fire safety arrangements.
