Islamabad: A meeting was held at the CDA Headquarters on Monday, presided over by Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Chief Commissioner Islamabad, Muhammad Ali Randhawa. The meeting was attended by CDA Board Member Finance Tahir Naeem, Member Planning and Design Dr. Khalid Hafiz, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Irfan Nawaz Memon, Director General of the Building and Housing Control, Director General of the Capital Emergency Services, and other senior officers. The meeting involved a detailed discussion on the current fire safety arrangements, making protective measures more effective and formulating a comprehensive strategy regarding private and public buildings.
Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa said that all high-rise private and public buildings in the Federal Capital Islamabad should be formally surveyed and categorized. He emphasized that it must be ensured that all necessary fire safety measures and emergency exit routes are mandatory in high-rise buildings.
During the briefing to the meeting, it was informed that approval of a building's fire safety plan from the CDA is mandatory before the construction of any new building. The meeting was further informed that for new private and public buildings, fire certification according to the regular Pakistan Engineering Council codes is compulsory. It was additionally communicated that adopting modern firefighting methods, drones will be utilized in firefighting operations in high rise buildings.
Muhammad Ali Randhawa said that a clear mechanism should be established to ensure full compliance of sensitive and old buildings with fire safety-related protective regulations. He said that the fire safety audit system should be made more effective and its complete implementation ensured.
Chairman CDA directed that the Capital Emergency Services, in collaboration with the district administration, should arrange regular simulation exercises in high-rise buildings. He also instructed that the human resource requirements of the Capital Emergency Services be fulfilled immediately.
The meeting reviewed the activation of a modern Emergency Operation Center on digital and modern foundations and the establishment of new rescue stations at various key locations in the city. Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa said that work is ongoing on a comprehensive legal and operational framework to deal with all types of emergencies and disasters in the Federal Capital. He further said that ensuring the protection of citizens' lives and property is among our top priorities.