Karachi, The Sindh government officials, Governor Sindh Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ibad and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) have been giving special attention to improve the fire safety measures in Karachi especially after the disaster in Baldia Town factory that claimed the lives of over 300 workers in ruthless fire.
The KMC Administrator, M. Hussain Syed, said this while delivering a keynote address as the Chief Guest at the “3rd Fire & Safety Convention and Awards 2012” at a local hotel here on Thursday.
In his address, he said that all the concerned departments are jointly making improved efforts to avert incidents like Baldia Town as they know the importance of a human life. However, he mentioned, laymen also have to play their role as far as fire safety and prevention is concerned. Syed pointed out that fire disasters occur when we show carelessness and do not follow standard procedures about fire safety measures which he termed as the foremost cause of fire incidents.
“Effective Disaster Management should be the first priority for a city like Karachi and fire is the top risk for this city citing its increasing population and construction activities being done at different areas in the metropolitan,” he said.
He urged for more focus on fire safety and prevention measures in Karachi from people of all walks of life – from a top government official to a common man.
KMC Administrator expressed his concerns over the behavior of industrialists as they neither insure their assets nor workers besides not installing proper firefighting system in their factories and industries which pose a serious threat of financial and human loss. “People don’t give attention to fire safety which is a negative mindset. They should install firefighting systems and smoke detectors at their factories as well as houses to avert any serious mishap as this the demand of ethics and refined cultural society where everyone considers the safety of others as a top priority,” he added.
He admitted that there is a lack in implementation of fire laws but, he added, government is working vigorously to make effective fire laws and implement them in true letter and spirit. Syed also showed his concerns over the lack of resources and disorganization in the fire brigade department as there are only 32 firefighting vehicles for the whole city of Karachi which is highly insufficient. Nonetheless, he announced, six new firefighting vehicles are going to add into the system till January which would minimize difficulties of fire brigade up to some extent.
He highlighted that government is pondering over establishment of an independent board to deal with safety issues in Karachi that will be headed by professionals and industry experts. A large number of fire safety professionals, NGO, representative of corporate sector attended the convention from all over Pakistan and represented their organizations and motivated participants to give special attention to fire safety measures in industrial units.
Many experts including, MD Hassen Habib – Fawad Ateeq Bari, Secretary FPAP – Tariq Moin, President FPAP Farhat Hussain, President NFEH – Naeem Qureshi, Chairman KATI – Zubair Chaya, Chairman SITE Dr. Arshad Vohra, CFO KMC – Kazim Ali, COO Martin Dow Pharma –Munir Anwar, Sameer Ahmed, M. Imran Hussain , Sabz Ali, and other, also addressed the convention and highlighted the motive of convention as an awareness campaign at all levels to enhance the sense of responsibility towards fire safety among masses. They also shared significant information and experiences to train the fire safety professionals and polish their skills.
The Chief Guest presented awards to the representatives of 29 different industrial units as an acknowledgement to their efforts and measures they have taken to ensure safety of their workers and assets alike at their units. The following companies awarded fire safety excellence award.
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