The Punjab government has issued a two-week deadline for stakeholders to implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in plazas, schools, and hospitals following the Gul Plaza fire incident in Karachi. The directive aims to strengthen fire safety and emergency preparedness across the province.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari highlighted that the government has introduced a building grading system, classifying safe buildings as A-grade and assigning other grades based on structural and safety conditions. The firefighting sector is being modernized with upgraded equipment, drones, and advanced technology to enhance response capabilities.
Rescue 1122 will provide the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) with a geotagged list of water hydrants, while a newly established monitoring cell, empowered through the Punjab Emergency Response Authority (Pera Force), will oversee compliance with SOPs. Buildings are now legally required to clearly display entry and exit points to facilitate emergency evacuation.
The government has also approved an emergency plan to install 1,142 fire hydrants at major commercial markets, plazas, and business centers across Punjab. All locations have been geotagged, and Rescue 1122 will ensure the hydrants are operational by March 1. Bokhari noted that modern ambulances and air ambulances are being deployed to further improve emergency response, reporting that 240 patients have already been airlifted and that Rescue 1122 interventions have prevented potential losses exceeding Rs. 750 billion.
These measures reflect Punjab’s commitment to enhancing public safety, standardizing emergency protocols, and reducing risks in commercial and public spaces.
