Punjab's fire response plagued by inaction, audit report shows

Punjab is facing growing challenges in responding to fire emergencies as limited resources, outdated equipment, and weak preparedness continue to expose serious gaps in public safety. Despite repeated fire tragedies, Punjab has not added major firefighting resources since 2019. Currently, the province has over 300 firefighting and rescue vehicles. In Lahore, a city with a population of nearly 13 million, Rescue 1122 operates just 58 fire tenders, even though according to international standards, a big city such as Lahore must have 260 tenders. However, ground realities often contradict these ideal standards. Many areas of Lahore still lack nearby fire stations, forcing vehicles to be dispatched from distant locations. Areas such as Defence, Wagah, inner-city neighbourhoods, and newly developed housing societies remain underserved. A new hotspot has been established in Raiwind, but population-based planning remains absent. Another major concern is water availability. Fire vehicles often have to travel long distances to refill water, delaying response times. Additionally, ambulances and firefighting vehicles are routinely assigned VIP duties, further reducing availability for public emergencies. Abdullah Malik, head of an NGO, criticised the lack of preventive measures. “Fires are routinely attributed to short circuits, yet no serious checks exist on poor-quality electrical wiring in homes, markets, or high-rise buildings. Large commercial buildings often lack fire alarms, sprinkler systems, emergency exits, or trained staff,” claimed Malik, who questioned Rescue 1122’s claims of universal five-to-seven-minute response times, noting that areas like Gulberg depend entirely on the Muslim Town fire station. In 2025 alone, the province recorded 28,495 fire incidents, resulting in 99 deaths, over 1,000 injuries, and losses worth billions of rupees. According to Rescue 1122, timely interventions saved an estimated Rs69 billion in potential damage, yet officials admit that overall fire safety standards remain extremely poor. Rescue data shows that most fires were caused by short circuits (10,018), negligence (5,755), gas leaks (1,355), candle usage (1,315), and kitchen fires (340). Lahore reported the highest number. A Fire Safety Audit conducted by the Punjab Emergency and Rescue Department assessed 2,214 buildings, markets, and plazas across the province. The findings were alarming: 1,722 buildings were categorised as “D Category”, meaning extremely dangerous. Lahore emerged as the most vulnerable city, with 682 buildings placed in D Category and 13 declared extremely hazardous. “In the inner city, there are many plazas and markets where controlling a fire would be extremely difficult. Narrow streets prevent fire brigade vehicles from entering, causing serious challenges for Rescue services. There is also no clear operating procedure. Fires in Lahore in recent years have claimed many precious lives,” said Muhammad Usman, a resident of Shah Alam Market. Several past incidents highlight these shortcomings. When a plaza caught fire in Shah Alam Market, the narrow streets prevented fire vehicles and ambulances from reaching the site. Fire hoses were extended as far as possible, and helicopters were used to drop water. A similar tragedy occurred in 2013, when a fire broke out at the LDA Plaza. Due to poor safety arrangements, the fire spread uncontrollably, and 23 people jumped from the building to save their lives. More recently, a factory collapse in Sundar Industrial Estate required assistance from private housing societies due to a lack of heavy rescue machinery. In response to the worsening situation, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz ordered an immediate province-wide fire safety audit. The government has directed that all high-rise buildings, markets, schools, and hospitals ensure proper safety arrangements. Emergency Services Secretary Dr Rizwan Naseer reported that fire incidents increased by 3.34% in 2025 compared to 2024, following a sharp 35% rise in 2024 over 2023, urging building owners to comply with the Punjab Community Safety Building Regulations 2022 to protect residents and property. By the end of 2025, the Punjab government issued tenders for new firefighting vehicles, a process still underway. Despite these steps, experts warn that without sustained investment, strict enforcement, and preventive planning, Punjab remains vulnerable to a major fire disaster.

from Punjab News Updates and Insights - The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/onz5kaX