Safety measures at commercial buildings: SHC asks various departments to submit reports

Sindh High Court on Friday ordered authorities of provincial departments, law enforcement agencies and private bodies working for welfare of labour, fishermen and others to submit their detailed reports regarding enforcement of essential pre-requisites pertaining to safety of various buildings.
A division bench, headed by Justice Maqbool Baqir, also called reports regarding progress on investigation into the Baldia Town factory tragedy from various departments including police, Sindh Labour Department, Ministry of Industries, SITE, KMC, Fire department and Karachi Water & Sewerage Board.
The bench issued notice to Sindh Industrial Trading Estate, all Cantonment Boards of Karachi, Karachi Port Trust, KMC, KWSB, Civil Defence Authority, Director Labour, Industries Ministry, Pakistan Engineering Council, Pakistan Standard Institute/Authority, Director General and Secretary of Health Department, Sindh Home Department, IG Sindh Police, Karachi Commissioner, social worker Abdul Sattar Edhi, Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, PILER, Institute of Architects, Docks Labour Board, SESSI, EOBI, NGO Shehri as well as Advocate General Sindh and Deputy Attorney General.
SHC bench directed them to also submit in detail their duties and functions regarding safety, security and live saving efforts/measures, various rules and regulations and codes. SHC bench noted it was also prescribed that various drills/exercises to be carried out periodically for prevention/control of fire/arson and other emergencies. It also directed to explain what mechanism for co-ordination between various departments, including fire fighting departments in city and adequate provisions, facilities, entrance, for filling/re-filling fire tenders in different areas.