Islamabad: The Directorate of Emergency and Disaster Management has stressed strict adherence to fire safety laws and precautions in private housing societies of Islamabad, according to news published on July 24. Reportedly, concerns have been raised regarding several approved housing schemes lacking efficient emergency and firefighting facilities, which are mandatory under existing safety laws.
To this effect, the Additional Director of Emergency and Disaster Management wrote a letter to emphasize the urgency of the situation to the Directors of Housing Societies and Regional Planning, along with the Registrar of cooperative housing societies. The said correspondence highlighted the need for strict implementation of fire safety regulations in Islamabad’s housing projects and stated that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) cannot solely respond to fire incidents effectively.
To prevent any such calamities, the Directorate proposed that dedicated spots for ‘Fire Sub-Stations’ and allied personnel should be made mandatory for granting approval of ‘LOPs/Revised-LOP and issuance of NOC’ by the relevant authorities.
The officials fully support this measure to protect the residents of these housing societies. Moreover, the Municipal Corporation Islamabad (MCI) offered to help with staff training, getting suitable equipment, and hiring technical resources. However, it’s important to note that the housing societies will have to cover the expenses for these safety measures.
The letter also suggested that the fire sub-stations should also acquire ambulance services for residents’ safety during emergencies. It should be noted that the initiative aligns with the Ministry of Interior’s objective of making the capital a resilient city with top-notch fire safety.
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