Firefighting Principles Must Be Adopted to Prevent Fire Incidents,Saqib Fayyaz Magoon
Karachi (Commerce Reporter): Senior Vice President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Saqib Fayyaz Magoon, has stressed the urgent need to adopt firefighting principles to prevent fire incidents, particularly in the wake of the tragic Gul Plaza fire.
Addressing a “Fire and Safety” awareness seminar organized by the Oil and Gas Training Institute of Pakistan at FPCCI, Magoon said that a comprehensive safety system is required to prevent fires or restrict their spread. Emphasizing that prevention is better than cure, he said effective fire safety measures are essential to protect precious human lives in the event of any emergency.
The seminar was also addressed by FPCCI Vice President Asif Sakhi, Patron-in-Chief of the Institute Malik Khuda Bakhsh, Chairman Imran Farooqi, Syed Wasim Ahmed, Sharjeel Goplani, Shahid Qamar Ansari, Faisal Khan, Syed Muhammad Asghar, and others.
Asif Sakhi said that the importance of fire and safety measures has increased significantly after the Gul Plaza incident. He noted that countries around the world are using modern technology to safeguard infrastructure and human lives, adding that all routes facilitating the spread of fire must be effectively blocked.
Malik Khuda Bakhsh said that the rising number of fire incidents across the country has made awareness and training in fire safety essential. He stated that the Oil and Gas Training Institute of Pakistan was established to promote a safety culture, particularly in homes, markets, and shopping centres.
Imran Farooqi said that fire and safety training programmes have already been launched in Defence. He added that the institute aims to train shopkeepers and their staff in markets across the city, urging trade and industrial associations to play their role. He said four- to six-week training courses are being offered at nominal fees, while free training is also available. He stressed the need to recruit trained firefighters in markets and industrial areas.
Sharjeel Goplani, head of the Timber Merchants Group, said that every shop in Lahore’s timber market is equipped with a sprinkler system. He pointed out that installing such systems in Karachi markets would require billions of rupees, adding that traders pay substantial taxes and the provision of safety facilities is the government’s responsibility.
President of the Jewelers Manufacturers Association Hussain Qureshi said that fire safety arrangements in the country’s economic hub are inadequate and called for fire safety systems to be developed in line with international standards.
Principal of the Institute Syed Wasim Ahmed said that more than 50 per cent of fire incidents in markets and factories are caused by electrical short circuits, followed by human negligence and chemical factors. He added that despite frequent incidents, fire safety equipment is often not installed or staff are not trained to operate it, highlighting the urgent need for trained firefighters.
