Disaster in waiting: most markets still without fire-fighting equipment

Almost all markets and most of commercial and high-rise buildings in Pakistan's business hub are not properly equipped with basic fire fighting devices, completely relying on fire tenders in case of accidents, endangering the lives of residents in case of a major catastrophe.
Many of the markets and almost 60 public and private multi-storey buildings in the Karachi, including Jodia Bazaar, Empress Market, Urdu Bazaar and Saddar electronics market, are devoid of fire safety mechanisms, it is learnt. Hardly any shopkeeper in new markets has bothered to install even basic fire fighting equipment, inviting disaster.
Most of the city markets are vulnerable to fire hazards. Most shopkeepers in congested markets of the city do not have even the basic fire-fighting equipment - a fire extinguisher. The Marriot Road wholesale market and other markets in the vicinity are over-crowded while mushrooming encroachments have eaten up the already narrow lanes, making it difficult for fire-fighters to enter in case of an accident.
Even newly-constructed and under-construction high-rise buildings in the city do not have proper fire safety equipment. Most of them even do not have an approach path for fire tenders and neither do they have any provision for an underground or overhead water supply reservoir. Chairman of the Law and Order Committee of the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (Kati), Nadeem Khan agreed with these observations and suggested that installation of fire extinguishers should be made mandatory for traders, shopkeepers and industrialists.
Criticising the government, he said that it was paying no attention to the safety and security of people, adding that the government only emphasises upon tax collection. Stressing the need for revamping electric wiring, re-evaluate power load and take other safety measures, he said that shopkeepers would have to make fire fighting arrangements on their own, besides arranging security guards, installing power generating units and water. He said that they should give up hopes of getting any help from the government.
Urging the government to equip the Fire Brigade with latest fire fighting equipment, adding that the city should have at least 200 fire brigade stations. Nadeem Khan said that over the past decade, a surge in fire incidents had been recorded because of misuse of buildings and inadequate fire safety arrangements, which resulted in large-scale loss of life and property.
Three years ago, fire had destroyed Boulton and 12 other markets on M.A. Jinnah Road. Representative of KCCI in the Karachi Affected Markets Relief Committee, A. Q. Khalil said that the committee was finding it difficult to persuade shopkeepers to install fire extinguishers in reconstructed markets and shops in Boulton and other markets.
Commenting on to Civil Defence Organisation, he said that this department did "nothing mint money". He reminded that the department's basic purpose was to provide training to general pubic on how to act in case of emergencies like fires. He said that efforts were being made to install fire extinguishers on the first floor of the buildings, instead on ground floors. Patron-in-chief of the Anjuman-e-Tajaraan, Boultan Market, Salim Farooqui said that some funds had been allocated to install CCTV cameras and fire fighting equipments in the affected buildings.