KARACHI : President of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), Rehan Hanif, has expressed grave concern over the growing number of fire incidents occurring in the city’s factories, commercial centres, and residential buildings.
He emphasised the urgent need for coordinated efforts between the administration, trade associations, government agencies, and building owners to inspect fire safety arrangements and ensure strict compliance with relevant laws.
Speaking during a meeting with the President of the National Forum for Environment and Health (NFEH), Muhammad Naeem Qureshi, NFEH Vice President Engineer Nadeem Ashraf, and President of the Fire Protection Industry of Pakistan (FPIP), Dr Imran Taj, the KCCI chief assured full cooperation and participation of his chamber in the upcoming Fire Safety Conference and Awards. He also confirmed that the entire KCCI cabinet would take part in the event.
The NFEH delegation congratulated Rehan Hanif on assuming the office of KCCI President. During the meeting, NFEH President Muhammad Naeem Qureshi highlighted that nowhere is the fire safety crisis more visible than in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest metropolis and industrial hub. Recent statistics, he said, present a disturbing picture: Karachi recorded 2,228 fire incidents in 2023, while over 2,900 incidents had already been reported by November 2024. The experts anticipate that the total number of fire incidents in 2024 would have exceeded 3,000, marking one of the sharpest increases in recent years.
Qureshi added that reports suggesting around 80 per cent of buildings in Karachi lack essential fire safety systems had sparked deep concern among safety experts. The absence of basic protective mechanisms such as fire alarms, sprinklers, extinguishers, and emergency exits poses grave risks to both residents and workers. He stressed that building owners and property managers must adopt continuous and preventive fire safety measures to protect lives and assets.
FPIP Chairman Dr Imran Taj noted that nearly 90 per cent of fires in industrial and commercial establishments occur due to negligence and poor planning. Meanwhile, Engineer Nadeem Ashraf informed the KCCI President that NFEH has been organising the annual Fire Safety and Security Conference for the past 15 years, helping thousands of professionals from industrial and corporate sectors enhance their knowledge and safety systems.
The 15th Fire Safety Conference and Awards, recognising organisations with outstanding safety measures, will be held on 4 November, marking another milestone in NFEH’s ongoing efforts to promote fire safety culture across Pakistan.
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