Punjab CM Maryam orders province-wide fire safety overhaul, sets one-month deadline

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz approved wide-ranging measures to prevent fire incidents across the province on Tuesday and set a one-month deadline for commercial buildings to install fire hydrants, warning that strict action would follow non-compliance.

The decisions were taken during a meeting chaired by the chief minister while addressing the commissioners and deputy commissioners (DC) via video link.

She approved the installation of 1,157 water hydrants across the nine divisions and the establishment of a new Fire Inspectorate Unit within Rescue 1122.

The chief minister also approved the use of modern high-expansion foam generators to douse fires and ordered the installation of smoke detectors and closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in large buildings.

First-aid facilities and oxygen cylinders were declared mandatory 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 ordered that every multi-storey building must be equipped with hydrants, while externally ventilated staircases were made mandatory to ensure safe emergency evacuation.

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.

Read More: Gul Plaza fire death toll rises to 73

Referring to a recent fire incident in Lahore, the chief minister said around 300 people were present in a 25-storey hotel building at the time. “We are thankful that a major tragedy was averted due to timely standard operating procedures and response,” she said, adding that 300 people meant 300 families.

She praised Rescue 1122 teams, noting that the director general had reached the site within five minutes. “The response time was commendable and should be replicated across Punjab,” the chief minister said.

The meeting’s participants were informed that damage at the hotel was prevented due to an operational nearby fire hydrant and the use of advanced high-expansion foam technology.

The chief minister expressed concern over the misuse of emergency exits in commercial buildings and directed strict action against violations. She instructed the development authorities to ensure the enforcement of regulations during building construction and ordered that fire safety equipment must not only be installed but also remain functional.

CM Maryam ordered regular checking of expiry dates of firefighting equipment and alarms, and warned that dangling and unsafe electrical wiring posed serious fire and rain-related hazards. The chief minister ordered province-wide inspection of gas cylinders and the sealing of companies manufacturing or selling substandard cylinders. Automatic sprinkler systems were made mandatory in all buildings.

The chief minister also ordered the removal of encroachments blocking entry and exit points in congested commercial areas, including Shah Alam Market. She ordered monthly fire drills in all districts. Compliance with fire safety drills was included in the key performance indicators of commissioners and DCs.

Also Read: Three dead as fire breaks out at Lahore hotel

CM Maryam emphasised that fire safety measures should not remain cosmetic. “Rescue 1122 is a critical institution. We will provide the required equipment, capacity-building and training resources,” she said.

She also ordered that boilers and flammable material should not be stored in basements of multi-storey buildings, stating that the loss of a worker due to negligence was unacceptable. “No worker being burned or killed can be tolerated,” the chief minister said.

Stroke centres

Chairing a meeting of the health department separately, the chief minister approved the establishment of stroke management centres in every district of the province. Posting of neurologists and paediatric neurologists at all district headquarters (DHQ) hospitals was also approved. Under the plan, a doctor and a nurse from each district will undergo three-month training in stroke management.

The chief minister also ordered the immediate launch of a telemedicine project for stroke patients, enabling doctors at district hospitals to consult specialists and consultants for prompt treatment.

CM Maryam instructed the department to initiate a training programme for nurses at the stroke centres and to take steps for stroke management training of rescue workers. She ordered an awareness campaign on stroke prevention and early treatment. She also announced that stroke management centres would be established in children’s hospitals across Punjab.

The chief minister also led the province’s first-ever artificial intelligence (AI) training session for provincial ministers.

During the session, the chief minister declared the use of AI mandatory in Punjab’s schools and approved the establishment of a Google Tech Valley Digital Transformation Advisory Board.