CONSIDERING the widespread lack of public awareness regarding fire safety, poor response mechanisms and the absence of adequate protective equipment, urban spaces across Pakistan have turned into tinderboxes. At least eight people were injured after a blaze broke out at a factory in Karachi`s Landhi Export Processing Zone on Thursday.

Thankfully, there was no loss of life. Rescue officials told the media that it is likely the workers were injured after they had been forced by the management to salvage goods from the burning building. They also pointed out that firefighters faced issues battling the blaze due to lack of proper water supply, while fire tenders from several different departments had to be called in to deal with the situation. Such fire hazards are becoming common in our cities. Last month there was a major blaze at Lahore`s Hafeez Centre, while Pakistan`s worst fire incident was the 2012 Baldia factory inferno in Karachi. Though the latter disaster was caused by deliberate arson, matters were exacerbated by the fact that many exits were either locked or blocked. Clearly, safety measures at many factories continue to be poor.

As per official figures, the Karachi fire department received nearly 3,000 distress calls last year. It is also a matter of great concern that, according to experts, around 70pc of the city`s buildings lack proper fire safety mechanisms. As our cities grow denser, and develop vertically, there is a dire need for proper safety protocols to be installed in residential, commercial and industrial buildings in order to prevent tragedy. No new building should be constructed unless it has proper fire escapes and a firefighting system. Moreover, fire drills are needed at the school level, while apartment dwellers and those working in factories and offices must be aware of where the closest exits are located. Provision of better equipment and coordination between fire and rescue services is also a must to prevent fatalities in emergency situations.