More than 70 per cent of approximately 1,900 buildings audited for fire safety in Karachi between January and November 2026 failed to meet the required fire prevention standards, raising serious concerns about public safety.
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The city has also recorded nearly 160 fire incidents in just two weeks, highlighting the urgent need for stronger fire prevention measures, improved emergency response systems and stricter enforcement of building safety regulations.
The figures were shared on Thursday at the 4th National Fire Safety Conference and Risk-Based Awards 2026, organised by the Fire Protection Association of Pakistan (FPAP).
Participants called for regular building inspections, mandatory fire safety training and better coordination among government departments.
More than 1,900 buildings audited in Karachi
Rescue 1122 Chief Operating Officer Abid Jalal said approximately 1,900 buildings had undergone fire safety audits from January to November this year. More than 70 per cent were found to lack adequate fire prevention arrangements.
Jalal stressed the need to review the Building Code introduced in 2016 and proposed establishing a separate technical authority to oversee fire safety standards, conduct building inspections and ensure compliance with relevant regulations.
He said that despite several devastating fire incidents across the country, enforcing building safety laws remained a major challenge. He called for coordinated action by government departments and relevant authorities to establish an effective monitoring and enforcement system.
Karachi records nearly 160 fires in two weeks
Karachi Chief Fire Officer Humayun Khan revealed that approximately 160 fire incidents had been reported across the city during the previous two weeks.
He identified narrow roads, illegal encroachments and delays in reporting fires as major obstacles to emergency response operations.
Referring to the Gul Plaza fire, Khan said the Central Fire Station received information about the blaze nearly 26 minutes after it had started, even though videos of the initial fire were already circulating on social media.
He expressed concern that people sometimes prioritise recording and uploading videos rather than immediately informing the fire brigade. Such delays can cost emergency responders valuable time.
Khan said the number of fire stations in Karachi had increased from 22 to 28. The department currently has eight snorkel vehicles and 52 water bowsers.
He also called for practical fire safety training in schools, colleges and universities, including basic firefighting techniques and safe evacuation procedures.
Experts demand stronger fire prevention measures
FPAP President Kanwar Waseem said fire safety should focus not only on extinguishing fires after they occur but also on preventing them.
He highlighted the importance of public awareness, professional training, technical expertise and institutional accountability in reducing fire-related risks.
Waseem urged the government, educational institutions, media and business community to work together to promote a culture of fire prevention.
He said FPAP had introduced professional fire safety certification courses recognised by NED University and contributed to the development of the 2016 Fire Safety Building Codes.
He stressed that buildings should have functional fire alarms, sprinkler systems, firefighting equipment and properly maintained emergency exits. Employees and occupants should also receive practical training to help them respond safely before emergency services arrive.
Industrial, commercial areas lack firefighting facilities
Former Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) president Javed Bilwani expressed concern over inadequate firefighting arrangements in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest industrial and commercial centre.
Bilwani claimed that Karachi contributes approximately 54 per cent of Pakistan’s total exports and 67 per cent of national revenue. However, he said several industrial zones, commercial markets and major business districts, including McLeod Road, still lack an adequate network of fire hydrants.
He pointed out that fire hydrants had been installed at Habib Bank Plaza when the building was constructed, but similar facilities had not been developed in several other important areas despite the passage of decades.
Poor coordination weakens disaster management
Former Director Operations of the Sindh Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Imdad Siddiqui, identified weak implementation of existing policies and poor coordination among departments as major weaknesses in Pakistan’s disaster management system.
He recalled a fire incident in a village in Dadu district in April 2022, when a kitchen fire spread rapidly because of strong winds.
According to Siddiqui, a mother locked her children inside a room in an attempt to protect them from the flames. However, the fire eventually engulfed the room, killing the children.
He said the incident demonstrated that financial compensation could never make up for the loss of human lives. Authorities, he stressed, must prioritise preventing such tragedies rather than focusing only on assistance after disasters.
Children need practical fire safety education
Fawad Bari, Chief Executive Officer of Hussain Habib, said children should learn from an early age how to protect themselves and assist others during fire emergencies.
He noted that schools in the United States had provided practical emergency response training for decades, while many people in Pakistan still lacked basic knowledge of how to handle common fire emergencies.
Bari warned that pouring water on burning oil or electrical fires could be extremely dangerous. He emphasised using appropriate fire extinguishers and disconnecting electricity supplies when it is safe to do so.
International experts join national fire safety conference
The conference was attended by PDMA Sindh Director General Salman Shah, Pakistan Red Crescent Chairman Rehan Hashmi, fire safety specialists, engineers and representatives from relevant sectors.
International experts from Singapore and the United Kingdom also participated virtually.
Speakers referred to the Gul Plaza fire and the fire incident at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), stressing the need to learn from such tragedies and improve safety arrangements.
Participants called for fire safety education to become a compulsory part of school curricula. They also urged authorities to conduct regular inspections of buildings and industrial facilities, organise practical evacuation drills and take action against building owners who violate safety regulations.
Experts warned that without strict enforcement of fire prevention laws and greater public awareness, preventable fires would continue to threaten lives and cause extensive property damage.
