THE recent fire incident at a Karachi mall that claimed the lives of about a dozen people was not the first such tragedy. We have witnessed similar incidents in the city frequently, including the fire at a departmental store near Jail Road that had claimed one life and caused massive financial losses.
While the current incident is not the first, will it be the last? There is no such chance. It is unfortunate, but it is true.
And it is true because of the apathy ofthe city fathers and their failure to learn any lesson from the past. The failure to take remedial measures by the authorities concerned is condemnable.
This is despite having relevant laws like the Sindh Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2017, and the Building Code of Pakistan (Fire Safety Provisions), 2016, that are framed to make citizens`life safer.
Despite the concerns raised in this regard time and again, a national fire safety symposium, which incidentally was organised just three days before the tragic incident in Karachi, has pointed out the missing representation of theSindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) whose presence and commitment was necessary to bring about positive changes that are necessary toprotect life and property of the people through planning and approving the maps and constructions across the city. Things definitely need to change for the better.
