City administration in Karachi has approved a dedicated mobile app to centralise fire safety data across commercial buildings, shopping centres, and major public venues.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting, chaired by Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi, which also reviewed progress on the ongoing fire safety audit of commercial buildings.
Officials said the app would integrate all departments involved in disaster management and fire safety, providing a unified platform to coordinate emergency response efforts.
In an emergency, rescue agencies will access real-time details of the safety arrangements and facilities of the building directly through the app, officials confirmed at the meeting.
Sub-Divisional Fire Safety Audit Committees, operating under assistant commissioners and established by Chief Secretary Syed Asif Hyder Shah, are continuing surveys of commercial buildings.
PDMA system analyst Diyal Das Rathore told the meeting that committees had uploaded survey data for more than 800 commercial buildings to the Fire Safety Audit Portal.
The uploaded data includes details on fire safety provisions and disaster response arrangements for each surveyed building, giving authorities a comprehensive overview of citywide compliance levels.
Buildings found to be non-compliant have been served notices and directed to address identified deficiencies immediately, with no delays permitted in implementing the required safety measures.
Commissioner Naqvi directed that the safety audit survey be expedited, and called on all relevant departments to play an active role in completing the audit quickly.
The KMC’s Chief Fire Officer, Rescue-1122, Civil Defence, and the Sindh Building Control Authority will support the effort and help authorities prioritise inspections of high-risk buildings.
Civil Defence has been tasked with identifying and submitting a list of high-risk structures that currently lack adequate fire safety measures, for priority action by relevant agencies.
Participants also discussed adding further data to the portal to strengthen emergency response capabilities, ensuring rescue agencies can act swiftly during fires or natural disasters in Karachi.
