Islamabad High Court seeks government’s explanation over failure to enforce fire safety laws
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court has sought an explanation from the federal government and other authorities over the apparent failure to enforce fire safety laws in the capital. The court asked them to explain whether buildings were being allowed to operate without mandatory safety clearances despite a regulatory framework empowering authorities to inspect, order compliance and even seal…
The Islamabad High Court has demanded an explanation from the federal government and relevant authorities regarding the apparent lack of enforcement of fire safety laws in the capital city. Chief Justice Sardar Mohammad Sarfaraz Dogar issued the directive in response to a petition seeking a fire safety audit and sealing of buildings operating without the necessary No-Objection Certificate (NOC).
The incident that prompted the court's intervention occurred in August when a fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) claimed the lives of several newborn babies. The court is questioning why buildings continue to operate without the required safety safeguards despite the Islamabad Fire Prevention and Life Safety Regulations 2010, which grant authorities the power to inspect, enforce compliance, and seal dangerous premises.
The regulations also outline the steps to be taken when violations are identified, including evacuation, removal of occupants, and sealing of the building. The petitioner argues that the Pims tragedy has exposed significant shortcomings in the implementation of fire safety laws in Islamabad. The regulations provide a mechanism for authorities to conduct inspections, identify deviations, and direct owners or occupants to make necessary corrections.
In cases of dangerous buildings, the Director Emergency and Disaster Management can order evacuation, and if occupants do not comply, they can be removed with police assistance and the building sealed in the presence of a magistrate. The court is seeking a comprehensive audit of all buildings in Islamabad, including a report identifying buildings without fire safety NOCs and sealing those in violation of the law.
The petitioner also seeks to link the registration of hospitals and educational institutions to the possession of valid fire safety NOCs, emphasizing that these facilities cater to vulnerable populations and cannot operate without basic life-saving measures. The court consolidated the petition with another case involving a judicial inquiry into the Pims fire tragedy, ordering the federation to submit a detailed report and the attorney general to examine the matter. The case is set to be heard again on September 24, 2026.
Written by urgent.news from Dawn - Pakistan's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
