Punjab CM sets 30-day deadline for fire hydrants in commercial, high-rise buildings

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Tuesday set a 30-day deadline for the installation of fire hydrants in all commercial and high-rise buildings across the province, warning that strict action would be taken against violators.

The directive was issued during a special meeting chaired by the chief minister, in which commissioners and deputy commissioners participated via video link. The meeting approved a series of comprehensive measures aimed at preventing fire incidents and strengthening safety mechanisms in commercial and multi-storey buildings.

CM Maryam directed strict enforcement of fire safety regulations and approved the installation of 1,157 water hydrants across nine divisions. She also sanctioned the establishment of a new Fire Inspectorate Unit within Rescue 1122.

The meeting approved the use of modern high-expansion foam generators for fire control and made the installation of smoke detectors and CCTV cameras mandatory in large buildings. First-aid facilities and oxygen cylinders were also declared compulsory in major commercial structures.

Specialised training programmes were approved for markets dealing in chemicals, cardboard, fabric and gas cylinders to improve preparedness against fire emergencies. The chief minister further ordered that all multi-storey buildings must be equipped with water hydrants, while externally ventilated staircases were made mandatory to ensure safe evacuation during emergencies.

Expressing grief over the Gul Plaza tragedy in Karachi, CM Maryam said Punjab stood in solidarity with the Sindh government, the people of Karachi and the bereaved families, and was ready to extend all possible assistance.

Referring to a recent fire incident in Lahore, she said around 300 people were present in a 25-storey hotel building at the time, adding that a major tragedy was averted due to timely standard operating procedures and an effective response.

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She instructed development authorities to strictly enforce safety regulations during construction and stressed that fire safety equipment must not only be installed but also remain functional. Regular checks of expiry dates of firefighting equipment and fire alarms were ordered, while dangling and unsafe electrical wiring was termed a serious hazard.

The chief minister directed a province-wide inspection of gas cylinders and ordered the sealing of companies manufacturing or selling substandard cylinders. Automatic sprinkler systems were made mandatory in all buildings.

She also ordered the removal of encroachments blocking entry and exit points in congested markets, including Shah Alam Market in Lahore, and directed that monthly mock fire drills be conducted in all districts.

Emphasising that fire safety measures should not be cosmetic, CM Maryam said Rescue 1122 was a critical institution and would be provided with the required equipment, training and capacity-building resources.

She further ordered that boilers and flammable materials must not be stored in the basements of multi-storey buildings, stating that the loss of even a single worker due to negligence was unacceptable. “No worker being burned or killed can be tolerated,” she said.