LAHORE: Expressing concern over repeated fire incidents and loss of billions to the business community in the backdrop of Ravi Road shoe factory fire, the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has demanded the federal and provincial governments to ensure installation of fire hydrants at those market places which are inaccessible to fire tenders.

In a news statement issued here on Saturday, LCCI President AbdulBasit said despite various fire incidents in the country in general and Lahore in particular in the last one decade, no concrete measures had been taken.

He said it was the government duty to install hydrants in such markets but in case of financial constraints at the government level, the private sector should also contribute.

Basit asked the government to announce compensation for the businessmen who had suffered huge losses and also urged the private sector to get fire insurance on their own. He said the fire inci-dents in Lahore had exposed the weaknesses in the system and there was an urgent need to rectify them on an emergent basis.

He said the massive devastation caused by the fire could have been averted if the government departments concerned had performed their duties properly and ensured implementation of rules and regulations.

He said Lahore and Karachi had attained the status of commercial hubs of the country but never ever due attention was given towards upgradation of fire-fighting equipment to control the situation incase of any such untoward incident.

The chamber president said on a number of occasions in the past, the LCCI had invited attention of the authorities concerned towards poor condition of fire-fighting equipment but to no avail.

He stressed the need for launching an awareness campaign to avoid fire incidents at business places causing heavy financial losses to the business community.

The LCCI president urged the government to issue necessary directions in this regard and called for upgradation of the power distribution system in congested places.