Majority of Rawalpindi’s High-Rise Buildings Found Lacking Fire Safety Measures

Out of 163 high-rise buildings in Rawalpindi, only one commercial building has been classified as fully safe with a complete automatic fire safety system, according to the Punjab Community Safety Building Regulations. Rescue sources confirmed that all 163 buildings were assessed, and only a single hotel meets the standards for Category A safety.

Eleven buildings were placed in Categories B and C due to incomplete fire safety systems, while 151 high-rises fall under Category C and are considered completely unsafe. Several commercial buildings lack essential safety features, including proper entry and exit points, automatic fire extinguishing systems, and smoke exhaust mechanisms. Many buildings have no emergency exits or automatic smoke evacuation systems at all.

Rawalpindi recorded 1,712 fire incidents last year, resulting in four deaths and 107 injuries, placing the city third in Punjab for fire-related incidents. Rescue 1122 reported an average emergency response time of less than eight minutes, highlighting both the urgency and risk posed by unsafe high-rise structures.