Buildings survey task force formed to check firefighting measures.

KARACHI -- The district administration of Karachi South on Saturday established a task force to check fire prevention and safety measures in high-rise buildings and commercial establishments in the business district of the city to determine the causes of frequent fire incidents and suggest corrective measures.

Official sources said that the task force formed in compliance with the Sindh High Court order would also ensure corrections in gaps identified in buildings and factories in coordination with all stakeholders.

They said that the chief fire officer of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, deputy director of Civil Defence, deputy director of the Sindh Building Control Authority, assistant commissioners of Saddar, Civil Lines, Arambagh, Garden and Lyari, DSP Police Traffic and Regional Transport Authority secretary were included in the task force.

The sources added that on the directives of Deputy Commissioner South Irshad Ali Sodhar the first meeting of the task force was held with the additional deputy commissioner, South, in the chair.

They said that the meeting participants decided that visits for inspection of safety measures in residential and commercial

high-rises shall be carried out and recommendation shall be made where safety measures were inadequate.

The sources said that it was also decided that building/site plans shall only be approved where buildings have fire safety mechanism in the structures and no exceptions would be made in this regard.

They said that the task force decided that completion certificate would only be issued after verification of fire safety mechanism by the relevant authorities.

It was maintained that fire safety trainings would be imparted to the administrations of apartments and commercial establishments.

The sources said that the campaign would be launched to sensitise the general public about hazards and fire safety.

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