SHC calls details of safety measures at commercial buildings

Posted on 9 months ago

KARACHI (PPI): Sindh High Court on Friday ordered authorities of provincial departments, law-enforcement agencies and private bodies working for welfare of labor, 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 Labor 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 Defense Authority, Director Labor, 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 Labor 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.
They were also directed to explain under what law they were obliged and competent to carry out and enforce such provisions. The reports shall clearly and distinctly reveal as to what extent such obligations have been fulfilled and shall explains reasons for non-fulfillment of all such measures/duties, which have not been fulfilled or complied with either wholly or in part, the SHC bench said in its order. The bench further said that such shall be done keeping in view the position that there were various building rules, regulations and codes for various areas and various structures and provisions such as relating to proper ventilation.
The bench observed that perhaps it was also prescribed as to how much area was required for specific number of workforce in various category of industries/units, as to where under what circumstances and with what precautionary measures, various items/material were to be stored. There were certain specific requirements for electrical fitting, fitment and installation for various kinds of buildings, industries, factories and plants, specific fire fighting system also prescribed for various kinds of buildings, factories and plants.
SHC bench noted it was also prescribed that various drills/exercises were to be carried out periodically for prevention/control of fire/arson and other emergencies.
It also directed to explain what mechanism for coordination between various departments, including fire fighting departments in city and adequate provisions, facilities, entrance, for filling/re-filling fire tenders in different areas. The court said that the reports should also explain what standby arrangements were in place for evacuation of victims of any accident, trauma or terrorism and whether there was adequate facility to provide emergency medical treatment on the spot, availability of oxygen cylinders.

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