THE deadly inferno that broke out in Karachi’s Regent Plaza hotel early on Monday has once again exposed the frail state of fire and rescue services in the metropolis. Victims had to jump out of windows to save their lives, while some of the affected people say they were left helpless for hours. What is particularly disturbing is the city mayor’s claim that the multistorey hotel lacked fire exits and alarms. This claim needs further investigation and if it is proved true, those responsible for such negligence must face the law. A large number of fires — both minor and major — are reported in Karachi annually. On Friday, a blaze broke out in a plastic warehouse in the congested old city area, while the fire at the Keamari oil terminal late last month took over 30 hours to control. Other large cities, particularly Lahore and Rawalpindi, have also experienced deadly fire incidents in markets and other buildings.

There are two major areas which need focus where fire prevention is concerned. Firstly, the landscape of urban Pakistan — particularly Karachi — has changed rapidly over the past few years, with a growing number of high-rises and multistorey constructions. As regulation in Pakistan is notoriously lax, it would be fair to ask if the state has ensured that under-construction and finished projects have incorporated basic fire-safety requirements, such as well-lit exits, smoke alarms and fire extinguishers, on all floors. There is also the issue of storing inflammable and highly dangerous materials in warehouses located in congested areas. Usually located in quarters with narrow lanes, difficult approaches and dense construction, these buildings can turn into death traps should a fire occur. Secondly, the health of the Karachi fire department does not inspire confidence. Water has been known to run out while fighting blazes; equipment is short or out of order; many inductions have been made on political grounds, resulting in ill-trained and ill-motivated personnel; and fire stations are far too few to cover the urban sprawl of the vast city. Karachi’s deputy mayor has recently said that that the fire brigade will be developed along ‘modern lines’. We hope — for the safety of millions of Karachi’s citizens — this is not mere rhetoric and that there is a definite modernisation plan in the works. Additionally, criminal charges should be pressed against building owners if it is established that they have flouted safety rules in structures where fire has broken out.

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2016