ISLAMABAD, Oct 19: Professor Riaz Ahmed Warraich has just entered the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences as its new executive director and is worried that most of the emergency exits in the hospital are boarded up.

An official in the Ministry of Capital Administration and Development told Dawn that Prof Riaz Ahmad Warraich, the Pims chief, had conveyed his concerns to Nazar Mohammad Gondal, the minister for CAD.

Prof Waraich stated that if remedial steps were not taken, the hospital may face a disaster like that occurred in Karachi a few months back.

The minister was also informed that encroachments in and outside the hospital were a security risk and should be removed immediately.

Chances of a fire incident at the Pims building, which was completed in 1985, are high, because not only its electric wiring system has become obsolete but also the load of electricity is increasing day by day, it ahs been learnt.

It may be noted that 289 people were killed in a fire at a garment factory in Karachi and 24 persons lost their lives in a similar incident at a shoe factory in Lahore in September this year.

These incidents raised concerns for many organisations and departments all over the country. Officials said more than 5,000 patients daily visit Pims while around 2,000 patients and their attendants stayed in the 1,000-bed hospital round the clock.

The minister was informed that one fire exit in the hospital had been blocked by the National Bank branch while another near the emergency building was shut after construction of a courtesy centre for VIPs. There used to be yet another exit near the medical ward that has been sealed due to security reasons.

Another official in the CAD ministry requesting anonymity said encroachments and kiosks on the premises of the hospital have become a security risk.

Meraj Khalid, a Guillain-Barré Syndrome patient, added: “I have to travel on a wheelchair for around 10 minutes to go out of the hospital.

In case of any accident, it will be impossible for patients to get out of the building.” He said the management should find some alternative ways in case of an emergency.

When contacted, Prof Warraich said he had informed the minister CAD about the issue of emergency exits and encroachments.

“Because of the incidents in Karachi and Lahore, I decided to check the emergency exit system but was disappointed to see all the exits blocked permanently. In case of any incident, there could be huge human casualties,” he said.

He said it was surprising that the bank building and the courtesy centre have been constructed on exit points. “A cardiac centre is also being built on the premises of the hospital which will further add to the congestion,” he said.

“I have decided to call fire experts on Monday to have a complete survey of the building and devise a foolproof disaster management system to ensure safety of patients and staff,” he said.