More than 70 per cent of nearly 1,900 buildings inspected for fire safety since January were found to have failed required standards, exposing thousands of occupants to potentially deadly risks in Karachi, where around 160 fire incidents have been reported during the past two weeks alone.
The figures were disclosed at the fourth National Fire Safety Conference and Risk-Based Awards 2026 organised by the Fire Protection Association of Pakistan (FPAP) on Thursday, where experts called for urgent reforms in building safety, public education and emergency preparedness. Rescue 1122 Chief Operating Officer Abid Jalal said about 1,900 buildings had undergone fire safety audits since January, with over 70 per cent found deficient.
He called for revising the 2016 building code and establishing a dedicated technical body to oversee fire safety standards, inspections and compliance. "Despite several serious and devastating fire incidents, the implementation of building codes remains a major challenge.
We must sit together and work collectively to ensure their effective enforcement," he said. Chief Fire Officer Humayun Khan said Karachi had witnessed approximately 160 fires in two weeks, while emergency services faced serious difficulties because of encroachments, narrow roads and delayed reporting.
Citing the Gul Plaza fire, he said the central fire station received information nearly 26 minutes after the blaze started, although videos of its early stages were already circulating. He regretted that people often preferred recording fires for social media rather than informing emergency services.
He said fire stations had increased from 22 to 28, and the department possessed eight snorkels and 52 water bowzers. He also urged practical firefighting and evacuation training at schools, colleges and universities.
FPAP President Kanwar Waseem said fire safety must move beyond firefighting towards prevention through public awareness, professional training, technical expertise and institutional accountability. He said the government, educational institutions, media and business community must work together to develop a culture of prevention.
He said the association had introduced fire safety certification courses recognised by NED University and contributed to the 2016 building codes. He added that buildings must have functional fire alarms, sprinklers, extinguishers and accessible emergency exits, while occupants and employees should receive practical training rather than relying entirely on rescue services.
Former Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Javed Bilwani criticised the absence of adequate firefighting infrastructure in Pakistan's largest commercial centre. He claimed Karachi contributed approximately 54pc of national exports and 67pc of tax revenues, yet industrial estates and markets, including McLeod Road, lacked essential fire hydrants.
Former Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) operations director Imdad Siddiqui said poor policy implementation and inadequate coordination between institutions were two major weaknesses in disaster management, urging immediate safety reforms across the province.