January 28, 2008	Monday	Muharram 18, 1429

KARACHI, Jan 27: The city government has decided to take action against owners of all those buildings, commercial complexes, markets and factories which do not have fire-fighting system or fire extinguishers within the premises.

City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal has directed Chief Controller of Buildings Rauf Akhtar Farooqui to immediately set up a team of senior and capable officers to carry out a survey of buildings to find out whether they have fire-fighting system or fire extinguishers or not.

Owners of all the buildings found lacking such equipment would be issued notices asked them to install the same so that timely action could be taken in case the building caught fire. The internal fire-fighting system would facilitate the efforts by fire-fighters to put out the fire in an emergency and would also help save human and material losses.

The nazim has directed the KBCA official to take action against those not complying with the directives. He also asked the KBCA to determine the punishment and amount of fine for offenders.

Mr Kamal said it had been observed that owners of many high-rises did not have fire-fighting equipment or system installed internally and whenever a fire incident occurred, the fire brigade department reported this problem.

He said every high-rise would have to have its own fire-fighting system, adding that safety measures must be taken as per the international standards.

—APP