Lahore: The Punjab government has directed the strict enforcement of Building Safety Regulations 2022 across the province to protect lives and property. Provincial Minister for Health and Emergency Services, Khawaja Salman Rafique, emphasized that any violations would face immediate legal action.
The orders were issued during a key meeting at the Rescue Headquarters Lahore, chaired by Minister Rafique. Secretary Emergency Services, Dr. Rizwan Naseer, briefed attendees on fire safety measures and the state of emergency services in Punjab.
Officials reported that a survey of 2,214 high-rise buildings has been completed across the province. Plans are also underway to expand fire services to 39 more tehsils at a cost of Rs 2 billion.
Minister Rafique highlighted that, under the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, emergency services are being upgraded to the next level. He credited the provincial government for initiatives such as the air ambulance service and enhanced motorway emergency services. “Implementing Building Safety Regulations 2022 is crucial to prevent the loss of precious human lives. The Punjab government is fully committed to enforcing the law,” he said.
Dr. Rizwan Naseer added that Punjab now has a modern fire and rescue service, featuring 281 fire vehicles, 2,446 trained fire rescuers, over 15,000 total rescuers, 892 ambulances, 74 rescue vehicles, 20 aerial platforms, and 800 rescue boats across the province. Rescue 1122 has responded to over 280,000 fire emergencies, saving potential losses estimated at Rs 768 billion. Safety grading of high-rise buildings across Punjab has also been completed.
Minister Rafique further urged the business community to cooperate in ensuring full compliance with the regulations, emphasizing that safety is a shared responsibility.
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