KARACHI: A recent survey conducted by the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has revealed that 90% of buildings in Karachi do not have adequate fire safety measures in place.
The SBCA carried out an audit of residential and commercial buildings in three districts of the city, East, Central and South. The survey found that fire safety measures were either insufficient or completely absent in the majority of buildings surveyed. Over 300 buildings were identified without any fire safety arrangements, leading to the issuance of notices by the SBCA. Building owners were given three days to implement necessary fire safety measures.
Sources from the SBCA indicated that in some buildings, fire safety equipment was found to be non-functional, and in many high-rise buildings, emergency exits were either blocked or absent. The audit also discovered that in a few buildings, emergency escape routes were closed off.
The SBCA emphasized that non-compliance with the notices will result in strict action. Buildings that fail to meet the fire safety requirements within the specified time frame will be sealed. In addition, the owners of these buildings will be required to obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the fire brigade to ensure proper fire safety measures.
The SBCA has also confirmed that the district administration will assist in sealing buildings that do not comply with the fire safety regulations.
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