LAHORE: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has directed the home department to check fire safety arrangements in high-rise buildings, shopping malls and commercial plazas. A circular has also been issued to commissioners and deputy commissioners to conduct a comprehensive survey across the province.

As per the directions issued on Friday, fire safety arrangements will be checked by survey teams consisting of additional deputy commissioner (revenue), Rescue 1122 district officer, civil defence officer, district officer (industries) and the representative of housing department/development authorities.

The managements of all such buildings will be bound to keep fire safety equipment functional along with making arrangements for safe emergency exit. Similarly, the owners will also be responsible for keeping the firefighting system operational, the administration concerned and civil defence officials will be bound to regularly monitor the fire-fighting arrangements and submit reports to the chief minister’s office.

HAFEEZ CENTRE: The chief minister on Friday chaired a meeting to review steps for rehabilitation of the affectees of Hafeez Centre fire and directed that a mechanism be devised within three days to take steps for compensation of the losses.

He said the government’s sympathies were with the traders and they would not be left alone.

Provincial Finance Minister Hashim Jawan Bakht, the finance and information secretaries and the deputy commissioner attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2020