ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority has intensified fire safety enforcement across Islamabad following a devastating fire at the Pakistan Institute for Medical Sciences (PIMS) that killed 14 newborn babies. The enforcement staff of the CDA sealed high-rise buildings in Blue Area as these buildings lacked fire and life safety systems.
The buildings included Shaheed-i-Millat Secretariat, State Life Building, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan Building and Beverly Centre.
Officials also partially sealed two hotels and stopped them from accepting new guests. Meanwhile, inspection teams continued checking other buildings for safety violations.
The authority fined PIMS, Polyclinic and CDA’s Capital Hospital Rs500,000 each for failing to meet fire and life safety requirements.
Further inspections planned
Moreover, CDA teams moved towards F-11 to inspect and potentially seal high-rise apartment buildings after previous notices reportedly went unaddressed.
CDA Chairman Sohail Ashraf directed officials to adopt a zero-tolerance policy toward serious fire safety violations. He stressed that protecting human lives remained the agency’s highest priority.
Officials are inspecting emergency exits, firefighting equipment, evacuation plans and other safety arrangements. The CDA has also ordered building authorities to correct identified deficiencies within prescribed deadlines.
Meanwhile, a citizen approached the Islamabad High Court over alleged failures to enforce fire safety laws. The petition claimed several commercial, educational and medical buildings operate without mandatory fire safety NOCs.
The petitioner also questioned Pims’ alleged lack of a required fire safety NOC.
