A Capital Development Authority (CDA) report has brought Islamabad’s fire safety preparedness under renewed scrutiny after the deadly fire at PIMS nursery.
The report, prepared in January, identified widespread fire safety deficiencies across buildings in the federal capital. It covered around 6,500 buildings, including 300 government buildings.
According to the findings, most surveyed buildings had not obtained approved fire safety plans, completion certificates, or fire safety certificates. Therefore, the report highlighted significant gaps in compliance with required safety measures.
The findings were discussed during a CDA meeting held on January 28. Following the survey, the civic authority directed building owners and occupants to submit the required fire safety certificates within 15 days.
CDA Identifies Widespread Fire Safety Deficiencies
The January report focused on the state of fire safety arrangements across Islamabad’s buildings. However, its findings showed that several essential requirements remained incomplete.
Most of the 6,500 surveyed buildings reportedly lacked approved fire safety plans. They also had not obtained completion certificates or fire safety certificates.
These documents play an important role in confirming compliance with prescribed building and safety requirements. Their absence therefore raised concerns about the preparedness of buildings to deal with fire emergencies.
The survey also included 300 government buildings. It found major gaps in fire safety arrangements and hazard control measures across the surveyed properties.
As a result, the CDA moved to strengthen compliance requirements following the findings.
Building Owners Given 15 Days to Comply
Following the survey, the CDA instructed building owners and occupants to submit the necessary fire safety certificates within 15 days.
The directive placed responsibility on those operating or occupying buildings to meet the required safety standards. At the same time, the authority warned that failure to comply could result in penalties.
According to the report, non-compliant building owners could face fines and other legal action. The CDA said such action could be taken under the CDA Ordinance and the Islamabad Capital Territory Building Control Regulations.
The move was intended to push building owners toward meeting established fire safety requirements. It also reflected the authority’s concerns about gaps identified during the survey.
Annual Fire Safety Inspections Planned
The CDA meeting also decided that buildings would undergo fire safety inspections every year.
Regular inspections were intended to provide a continuing check on fire safety arrangements. In addition, building owners would have to submit certificates according to Pakistan Engineering Council codes.
The decision placed greater emphasis on maintaining fire safety standards over time. It also meant that compliance would not remain a one-time requirement.
Instead, buildings would face recurring inspections to determine whether their safety arrangements remained in place and functional.
Fire Drills Also Part of the Plan
The CDA meeting further decided that regular fire safety drills should be conducted.
Such drills were aimed at improving emergency preparedness among building occupants. They were also intended to help ensure that people could respond more effectively during a fire.
Meanwhile, the authority stressed the importance of keeping evacuation routes and safety systems functional.
Fire safety measures are only effective when they remain accessible and operational during an emergency. Therefore, maintaining evacuation routes formed an important part of the measures outlined after the survey.
The CDA said the overall measures were designed to prevent fires and improve preparedness for emergencies.
PIMS Nursery Fire Brings Report Back Into Focus
The January findings have now come under renewed attention following the deadly fire at the PIMS nursery.
The fire occurred on Wednesday and killed 14 newborns. The tragedy has once again brought questions surrounding fire safety arrangements in buildings into focus.
Against this backdrop, the CDA’s earlier findings have gained fresh significance. The report had already identified shortcomings in fire safety compliance across a large number of Islamabad buildings.
The findings covered both private and government buildings, highlighting concerns across different categories of properties.
The report’s resurfacing after the PIMS nursery tragedy has therefore renewed attention on the importance of fire safety compliance and emergency preparedness.
A Renewed Focus on Fire Safety Compliance
The CDA’s survey provides a picture of the fire safety gaps identified across Islamabad during its January assessment.
With around 6,500 buildings surveyed, the findings pointed to a broad compliance challenge. The inclusion of 300 government buildings also showed that the issue was not limited to private properties.
The authority’s subsequent decisions focused on certificates, inspections, emergency drills, and functional evacuation routes. Together, these measures were intended to strengthen preparedness and ensure that buildings met required safety standards.
However, the deadly PIMS nursery fire has given the earlier findings renewed urgency.
The tragedy has once again highlighted why fire safety systems must remain functional and why emergency preparedness matters inside buildings.
The CDA had already directed building owners and occupants to obtain the required certificates. It had also warned of fines and legal action against those who failed to comply.
Furthermore, annual inspections and regular fire drills were included in the measures agreed during the January meeting.
As attention returns to the fire safety conditions of buildings in Islamabad, the January report remains a significant record of the deficiencies identified by the civic authority.
The findings also underline the importance of compliance with approved fire safety plans, certification requirements, emergency drills, and functioning evacuation routes.
Following the PIMS nursery tragedy, these previously identified gaps have once again become a matter of public concern.
