KARACHI: A province-wide inspection drive has identified widespread fire safety deficiencies in commercial and residential buildings across Sindh, with authorities issuing notices to 3,319 properties and categorising 889 buildings as high-risk due to serious violations and absence of essential fire prevention measures.

The findings were shared during a high-level meeting chaired by Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah on Thursday to review the status of fire safety compliance and enforcement measures throughout the province.

The meeting was attended by the secretary rehabilitation, director general of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), as well as all divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners.

A statement issued after the meeting said that a detailed briefing was shared, which suggested that a total of 3,633 buildings were inspected as part of an ongoing province-wide assessment drive aimed at evaluating fire safety arrangements. Of these, 889 buildings were classified as high-risk, 916 as medium risk requiring corrective measures within a specified timeframe and 912 as low risk with minor improvements recommended.

Province-wide inspection categorises 889 structures as ‘high-risk’

The chief secretary appreciated the efforts of district administrations, PDMA, the Sindh Building Control Authority and Civil Defence teams for conducting thorough inspections and visiting identified buildings to assess on-ground compliance.

He noted that coordinated field operations and early identification of risks are crucial to preventing fire-related incidents and safeguarding lives.

Addressing the issue of medium-risk buildings, the chief secretary directed deputy commissioners to convene meetings with stakeholders, including business committees and building representatives, to ensure the timely implementation of recommended fire safety measures. He emphasised that compliance must be achieved within stipulated timelines and closely monitored at the district level.

For high-risk buildings, he ordered the formulation of a clear, definitive timeline for immediate compliance and called for strict enforcement against non-compliant properties. He instructed authorities to seal buildings or take other strong regulatory measures where necessary to eliminate imminent risks, making it clear that no compromise would be made on public safety.

The meeting also reviewed the follow-up on notices already issued and stressed the need for continuous monitoring to ensure compliance.

The chief secretary directed that all fire safety equipment — including extinguishers, alarms and related systems — must be properly installed and maintained in working condition.

Additionally, district administrations were instructed to document precise location coordinates and mapping of buildings to strengthen preparedness and emergency response planning across the province.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2026