CDA orders fire safety audit of public, private buildings

Islamabad: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to conduct a thorough fire safety audit of all high-rise public and private buildings in Islamabad, along with measures to strengthen emergency preparedness, including the use of modern firefighting technologies such as drones. The decisions were made during a meeting at CDA headquarters on Monday, chaired by CDA Chairman and Chief Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa. Senior officials from the CDA, district administration, planning, and emergency services departments also attended.

Chairing the session, Randhawa directed that all high-rise buildings in the federal capital be formally surveyed and categorized to ensure full compliance with fire safety regulations. He emphasized that every building must have mandatory fire safety systems and clearly marked emergency exit routes. Officials informed the meeting that approval of a building’s fire safety plan from the CDA is compulsory before commencing construction, and that fire safety certification, in line with Pakistan Engineering Council codes, is mandatory for both public and private buildings.

Read: CDA to launch city-wide fire safety, emergency response survey

The meeting was also briefed on the introduction of modern firefighting techniques, including the deployment of drones, to improve response efficiency for high-rise fire emergencies. Randhawa highlighted the importance of a clear enforcement mechanism to ensure older and sensitive buildings adhere strictly to fire safety standards. He further instructed that the existing fire safety audit system be strengthened and implemented rigorously.

Randhawa also called on Capital Emergency Services, in coordination with the district administration, to conduct regular emergency simulation exercises in high-rise buildings. He directed immediate fulfillment of human resource requirements to boost emergency response capacity.

Additionally, the meeting reviewed plans to activate a modern, digitally integrated Emergency Operations Center and establish new rescue stations at strategic locations across the city. Randhawa noted that work is ongoing on a comprehensive legal and operational framework to manage emergencies and disasters in the federal capital, underlining that the protection of citizens’ lives and property remains the highest priority.