The Punjab government has given stakeholders two weeks to implement Standard Operating Procedures in plazas, schools, and hospitals following the Gul Plaza fire in Karachi.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said the province has introduced a building grading system, classifying safe buildings as A-grade and others according to their condition. She added that the firefighting sector is being upgraded with modern equipment, drones, and advanced technology.
Rescue 1122 will provide Wasa with a geotagged list of water hydrants, while a new monitoring cell with powers granted to the Pera Force will oversee SOP compliance. Buildings are now legally required to clearly display entry and exit points.
The government has also approved an emergency plan to install 1,142 fire hydrants at major commercial markets, plazas, and business centers across Punjab. All locations have been geotagged, and the hydrants are expected to be operational by March 1, with Rescue 1122 responsible for installation.
Bokhari highlighted that modern ambulances and air ambulances are being deployed to improve emergency response, noting that 240 patients have already been airlifted, and Rescue 1122 has prevented over Rs. 750 billion in potential losses.