Civil Defence Sindh (CDS) has expressed concern over the safety of thousands of employees and daily visitors at the headquarters of Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC). In a notice issued to the director of Safety Department of KESC on May 6, the Civil Defence department of Sindh expressed its serious concern over the lack of safety measures like the exit point and fire fighting equipment in the building which pose a threat to thousands of people.
It has also deputed its officers to make a survey of the building. Through an instruction given to the deputy controller of Civil Defence of Karachi-South, the Additional Director CDS has called for physical survey of the building premises and to ascertain the existing stock of the fire fighting equipment/associated protective measures followed by recommendations in the shape of Feasibility Technical Report being mandatory under the Civil Defence (special powers) rules-1951 r/w Civil Defence Act-xxxI-1952 in conjunction with an order-1986. The director has also called for mutual consultations of the Health and Safety departments in order to bring the high-rise building under a protective umbrella in accordance with CDS laid down scale on time.
According to sources, KESC has 11 floors out of 13 for its use which house almost over 700 of its employees and at least 1200 to 1500 daily visitors. They said in the building, having such a crowed, there was no marked exit point to advise people to use it in case of any unfortunate happening.
The department of Health and Security, responsible for safety in the building, in doing nothing, except to enjoy getting salaries and other perks, they said. The company had also recently vacated two rented buildings at Abdullah Haroon Road, increasing the number of offices in its headquarters which has created congestion in the building.
After the shifting of departments like security, procurement, audit, billing, estate, power purchase, and underground constructions etc to the State Life Building not only the building was overburdened but also the customers are now facing more hardships due to the rush.
According to the sources, not only the building of the company had no safety arrangements, there was also no "danger warning signs" at its stations, substations, H.T poles, and PMTs which, according to the electricity Act was compulsory as a precautionary measure. They said as the company was already facing at least 1,500 cases of claiming compensation for damages in courts, it should install warning boards on its installation.
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