Authorities expand survey to cantonment areas as digital monitoring and staff training drive gathers pace
KARACHI: The Karachi administration has completed the fire safety audit of more than 800 shopping malls, commercial buildings and major government buildings, marking significant progress in the city’s ongoing initiative to strengthen emergency preparedness and reduce fire risks.
The progress of the citywide fire safety audit was reviewed during a meeting chaired by the Commissioner Karachi on Tuesday, where officials discussed measures to accelerate inspections of the remaining buildings.
The meeting was informed that a dedicated mobile application has been developed to digitally record fire safety information and inspection details for all surveyed buildings, enabling authorities to monitor compliance more efficiently.
The Commissioner directed all Deputy Commissioners to expedite surveys of the remaining buildings and ensure the audit is completed at the earliest.
To improve coordination and data management, the meeting decided to establish separate digital dashboards for the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and the Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD). These platforms will allow the upload of comprehensive information on buildings covered under the fire safety audit, including approved completion plans for commercial shopping malls to facilitate quicker emergency response.
Officials from the SBCA assured the meeting that completion plans and related building records would be uploaded to the system in phases as soon as possible.
The meeting also resolved to extend the fire safety audit to shopping plazas and commercial buildings located in cantonment areas, with their inspection data to be incorporated into the central digital portal.
Fire safety audit committees, working under the supervision of Assistant Commissioners, will assist cantonment boards in conducting surveys and completing inspections within their respective jurisdictions.
As part of broader efforts to improve emergency preparedness, Civil Defence, Rescue 1122 and the Fire Safety Department will organise comprehensive fire safety training programmes for building management and staff. Training manuals and guidance materials will also be uploaded to the digital dashboard to support compliance and awareness.
The meeting was attended by all Deputy Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners, Municipal Commissioners of all towns via video link, Assistant Commissioner Revenue Sajjad Abro, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) System Analyst Dayal Das Rathore, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Chief Fire Officer Muhammad Humayun, and representatives of Rescue 1122, Civil Defence and cantonment boards.
During the briefing, PDMA System Analyst Dayal Das Rathore informed participants that notices had been issued to buildings found lacking the required fire safety arrangements, directing their managements to rectify deficiencies without delay.
The ongoing audit forms part of the Karachi administration’s broader strategy to enhance building safety standards, strengthen emergency response capabilities and minimise the risk of fire-related incidents across the metropolis.
