KARACHI, Nov 12: Speakers at a seminar on “fire and disaster control” called for joint efforts by the City Government, the KPT, the Pakistan Railways, the Civil Defence Organisation, all the three defence forces and other civic agencies in combating any eventuality relating to fire and disaster.

They also called for preparing a disaster control plan for Karachi. The seminar was organized by the Institution of Engineers Pakistan, in collaboration with the Insurance Association Pakistan and Fire Association of Pakistan.

Rear Admiral Mushtaq Ahmed, commander logistics, Pakistan Navy, appreciated the holding of the seminar on a vital topic of any mega-city, which was unfortunately being ignored in Karachi.

He suggested the formation a joint fire-fighting force, comprising fire departments of all civic agencies and departments to minimise the hazards and damages caused by fire, apart from improving the efficiency of each fire department as they would share from the experiences of each other.

Khalid Rashid Quraishi, IEP Karachi chairman, in his welcome address said many people have dedicated their lives to save the city from fire and disaster but their services have not been recognized.

He announced that the IEP was the only institute in Pakistan to honour late Moinuddin and Zameer Siddiqui and Jabbar Siddiqui, former chief fire officers.

M.P. Gangwani, IEP president, informed that Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology, had offered to create a special chair for study of Fire and Disaster Control in collaboration with the IEP.

He said that the concerned authorities should make a review of the preventive and remedial measures in case of any disaster caused by nature or human error, including wars.

The speakers deplored that only a fraction of high-rise buildings in Karachi have a provision of fire control, fire exit and safety measures.

Those who spoke included Rear Admiral M.I. Arshad, M. Jamaluddin and Tariq Moen.—PPI