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Emergency directorate to get new machinery worth Rslbn: mayor

By A Reporter 2018-05-05
ISLAMABAD: In a bid to improve the performance of the emergency and disaster management directorate of Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI), new machinery worth Rs1 billion is being purchased while PC-1 for the establishment of three fire substations at I-9/4, I-14 and Humak has also been approved.

This was stated by Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz while addressing a ceremony organised by the MCI at the fire headquarters in connection with the International Firefighter Day on Friday.

Firefighters and rescue workers also demonstrated their skills on the occasion. A flag march of firefighting vehicles was also organised which was led by the mayor. The flag march started at the fire headquarters and after passing through different areas concluded at the same place.

The mayor said a survey for fire safety measures in different buildings was being carried out besides launching a campaign to create public awareness of safety measures in case of a fire.

A majority of commercial buildings in Islamabad are being operated without proper fire and safety measures.

`Recently, we conducted a survey of around 2,400 buildings in which hardly 100 were found having adequate fire safety equipment,` additional director emergency and disaster Umaduddin told Dawn. He said high-rises such as UBL Tower, Centaurs, Shaheed Millat Secretariat, Stock Exchange and State Life buildings had been issued notices for proper fire and safety equipment.

The official told the gathering that his directorate consisted of 34 latest firefighting vehicles, firefighting devices and sniffer dogs that detected human bodies under rubbles during accidents. He said the directorate had a fleet of 34 fire tenders, two snorkels of 68 metres, two Bronto sky lifts of 29 metres and a 46-metre aerial ladder.