Sindh Orders Province-Wide Fire Safety Audit of Thousands of Buildings

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has ordered a province-wide fire safety audit of major government, private, and commercial buildings to improve public safety.

The decision was made during a high-level meeting chaired by the chief minister at the CM House on Sunday. He approved a comprehensive inspection plan covering key buildings across Sindh, with strict timelines for compliance and firm action against violations.

In the initial phase, 2,368 buildings will be inspected. According to official data, Sukkur tops the list with 898 buildings, followed by Karachi 562, Hyderabad 540, Shaheed Benazirabad 171, Larkana 143, and Mirpurkhas 54.

The chief minister emphasized that fire safety audits are no longer optional. He directed that all commercial, private, and government buildings must be equipped with modern fire prevention systems.

Clearly marked emergency exits and unobstructed entry and exit routes are now mandatory in every facility. The initiative aims to institutionalize safety protocols and strengthen emergency preparedness at district and taluka levels to better handle unforeseen incidents.

A three-phase implementation plan was approved. Immediate measures include inspections of fire alarm panels, portable fire extinguishers, and emergency signage. Short-term actions will ensure the installation and operation of smoke detectors, central alarm systems, and hydrants.

In the long term, buildings will be required to fully rectify electrical wiring and install automatic fire suppression systems.

The chief minister directed the chief secretary to ensure that teams from the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) meet with building management and assign clear deadlines for immediate, short-term, medium-term, and long-term safety measures. He warned that non-compliance will result in strict action.

Murad Ali Shah also ordered that basements and mezzanine floors approved for parking must be used strictly for that purpose and not for shops, storage, or godowns.

In addition, he approved the resumption of annual safety inspections of commercial buildings, which had been discontinued for several years. These inspections will cover electrical systems, emergency exits, and entry points.

The chief minister instructed SBCA and PDMA to issue strict notices to non-compliant buildings, warning that safety standards must be met without compromise.