IT is inconceivable that laws, rules and regulations regarding fire safety, registration of workers and their rights of compensation in case of accidents, etc., do not exist in the books. It is inconceivable that there are no federal and provincial government departments, with the hierarchy from the minister, federal or provincial, the local city administration, down to the inspector, whose responsibility is to enforce these laws and regulations to safeguard the lives of the citizens.

Each one has failed in their duties and responsibilities. Each one has the responsibility for the death of every worker who perished in these fires. The responsibility is equally on the shoulders of the seths who owned and operated these establishments.

Press reports inform us that the owners of the factory in Karachi are absconding and their names are on the ECL.They have a residence in Karachi. Round up their families and bring them to the factory to face the families of those who perished. Let’s see how long the Seths will remain absconding. Confiscate their properties and all other assets to compensate the victims’ families.

It is also reported that the thousands who worked in these factories were illegal workers, not registered anywhere, and, therefore, not entitled to compensation for accidents or mishaps. The government officials who chose to overlook this aspect should also be identified in the media and should not escape punishment.

It is frightening to imagine the number of offices, factories and large residential buildings across the country waiting for more disasters to happen, because the authorities and personnel concerned take gratification for lack of enforcement of safety regulations.

Initially all developing civilisations had to adopt Draconian measures of punishment to bring the violators in line with the laws and regulations, before the authorities and the people eventually began to accept the system. This is the need of the hour but alas, only a dream for us here in Pakistan. All political parties representing the ‘so-called’ awam, the trade unionists in factories and offices, and the religious parties more concerned about enforcing their ‘moral code’, have their own agendas, light years removed from the burning issues of the common man.

KHIZAR NAQVI Karachi

Wake-up call Most of the industrial establishments, particularly the smaller ones, and commercial buildings do not comply with fire safety regulations.

In the majority of such places there is no proper fire exit, which should consist of a fire resistant metal door which should open through a panic lever towards the outside of the building. In case of multi-storied buildings the fire exit should open on a staircase which is external to building. Such a staircase exists only in very few buildings in Karachi. There are inadequate numbers of fire extinguishers and pressurised fire hydrants are rarely found.

Electrical wiring is not designed by qualified electrical engineers often leading to overloading of circuits. Sub-standard cables are used by contractors which is another fire hazard.

In high risk industries such as cotton, textile, garment and chemicals extra care should be taken to provide measures to reduce fire risk and for controlling the fire if does occur. The government should take strict measures to ensure compliance with fire prevention regulations and periodic inspections should be carried out.

Let us hope this would be a wake up call and the authorities concerned would take up necessary steps to prevent such horrible incidents in future,

ENGR. NASIM HAIDER Karachi

‘Time to act’ THIS is apropos of your editorial, ‘Time to act’ (Sept 14). A very comprehensive and correct analysis has been made in the editorial regarding the deadliest fire disaster in Pakistan since the start of the 21st century.

One can only hope that the unfortunate families of these fire victims are compensated both by the government and the factory owner.

Similarly, one can also hope if investigation by the government to find out the causes of the fire in the factory is also conducted honestly and culprits found responsible are caught and given an exemplary punishment.

However, it may be noted that sadly the government has taken this tragedy as a routine emergency only as the president or the prime minister or the Sindh chief minister has not bothered to visit the burnt factory and the families of victims for condolence.

YALDARAM KHATOON Karachi

Fire safety in US I VISITED the US recently. I saw that the building I was staying in had all facilities like fire-alarm drills and fire-extinguishing cylinders together with the fire brigade at their disposal.

I remember I was sleeping on a Sunday morning in Nelson Hall while someone was cooking some smoky Asian food which caused the fire alarms ringing. I ran down the stairs barefoot from the sixth floor because elevators stop working and open up whenever there is a fire alarm.

All of us ran down peacefully and I knew I would not be trampled in a stampede.

Also there were many exits in the building so that nobody gets stuck inside. Had there not been an alarm to wake me up, I would have died just like what happened in my country. These factories in Pakistan had no exits, their windows had grills and there was no equipment to extinguish the fire.

RIDA MARRI BALOCH Hyderabad