THE inferno at a Karachi garment factory calls for certain action. Once there was a big fire in a New Delhi cinema hall, Uphaar, killing a number of people who did not all happen to belong to the poor segment of society. The cinema hall, which was located in a posh locality, did not have any ‘exit’ gates. With the passage of time, people’s memory faded. So did the public anger.

Years later, Calcutta saw a severe fire breaking out at a business locality — ‘Territti Market’ — which housed textile goods, tarpaulin, etc. The market had two unauthorised floors, besides letting and sub-letting for inflammable materials without authorisation.

A mere punishment for the owner of the Karachi factory will not solve any problems. No single person in the public office will, perhaps, be found above the complicity in the arena of enforcement.

Alternatively, is it feasible to demolish all such unsafe factory/business premises to make way for new ones conforming to safety standards? A congested neighbourhood along with narrow lanes compounds the problem all the more for fire brigades.

Building rules with open space norms are to be followed not in breach but in observance. All hazardous units should be shifted phase by phase to greener pastures.

Next comes the question of economic development.

Today’s China faces the allegation of severe human-rights violation with respect to its workers. At the end of the day, the world’s most populous nation has recorded rapid growth not only in industrial products but also in sports.

The questions are tricky and there cannot be an easy answer as to which path to choose.

All said and done, this inferno warrants a thorough re-look into the rights of workers. The country should strictly abolish ‘bonded labour’ in the rural belt. The Zamindari system is the major impediment to land reforms.

Exploitation of workers, mostly illiterate, includes physical assault. Social welfare schemes should be introduced with greater zeal. Pakistan -India relationship must be optimally exploited to imitate some of the success stories of welfare measures taken by India.

Population control is another bigger challenge if the future generation is to be assured of decent jobs, notwithstanding scriptures to the contrary.

Like progressive countries in general, and a Muslim country like Turkey in particular, Pakistan must follow the path of monogamy to ensure justice to the fairer sex.

The fire has killed a few hundred. But the slow and continuing exploitation of the child labour force, day in and day out, beyond the media glare is no less pathetic. A decent and humane environment all around has no quarrel with the material development of a country.

SANDIPAN KHAN Calcutta, India

Pre-meditated THE death of over 300 workers in the two factories of Lahore and Karachi resulted from inefficiency and corruption in the factory management, government departments and dishonourable political leaders of Punjab and Sindh.

In 2003, the Punjab Government banned labour inspections and the incumbent Sindh chief minister followed suit. This was confirmed by the Sindh labour minister and the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research.

Both factories were not registered as required by the Factories Act. The law requires registration to be re-validated each year, which was never done, as there was no registration to start with.

Both factories failed to comply with the most basic fire precautions listed under Article 25 of the pre-partition Factories Act 1934.

Every factory must provide a means of escape in case of fire. The exit doors must never be locked.

The doors and routes for exit should be clearly marked. An effective siren system should be provided. The passage to each means of escape should be free of all obstructions.

Workers should be trained on emergency procedures and emergency evacuation drills should be carried out. An ample supply of water with sufficient pressure to reach all parts of the factory should be available. Fire extinguishers and sand buckets should be provided. Factories with more than one floor should have a main and another set of stairs as an alternative.

Not required by law, but a common-sense requirement is to also have a system of knowing the exact number of people working inside a factory and a head-count process to determine if everyone has been evacuated.

We will never know the actual number of people who died in the Karachi fire accident.

The current political and bureaucratic system is too corrupt and incompetent to be resurrected and could well be sent for dismantling.

Unless we create a new and professional Occupational Health and Safety Administration in the country, our factories will continue to act like death traps for the helpless and economically-trapped labour force of Pakistan.

NAEEM SADIQ Karachi

Some suggestions THE devastating fire in a SITE area garment factory was extremely tragic and painful. The Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court has directed the authorities concerned to take stern action against institutions responsible for implementing the rules under various labour laws.

Concurrently committees by the FIA, CIA and the SESSI Commissioner have been set up to investigate into the tragic incidence, as reported in the press.

To avoid such ghastly incidence of loss of human lives and damage to property, I suggest the following measures from personal experience:

Provision of emergency gate/s other than the main entrance; doors of all sections of factory building should open outside; clear passage between rows of machines; provision of sufficient fire - fighting equipment; training of fire party to tackle an emergency in time prior to outside help.

For ensuring the above measures the Sindh industries ministry should appoint some social compliance specialists to verify the report given by the labour department, boiler and electrical inspectors, etc., on a random basis.

It may be mentioned that SESSI and EOBI do not provide necessary facilities to covered employees under the schemes in proportion to the contribution collected from employers, and huge funds are accumulated by these institutions, audited accounts of which should be made available to the trade bodies.

The fire brigade needs to be overhauled and made effective to meet any emergency in the city.

AN INDUSTRIALIST (Name withheld on request) Karachi

Insurance companies INSURANCE is considered to be the backbone of the whole financial system. A tragedy like that in Baldia Town can be reduced if my suggestion is given a little weight.

Insurance and surveyor companies need to be taken on board as they usually carry out a risk management survey prior underwriting such industrial risk.

Insurance companies need to have a reporting structure to the Insurance Association of Pakistan (IAP), SITE, KITE, Sindh trade and industries ministry,etc, when they come over with a risk not complying with the health and safety standards they should report to the authorities concerned and must not issue any policy whatsoever in any class until the standards are met or the surety is provided by the owner of the industrial unit in writing. The common people suffer while the elite class remains at bay. Unfortunately this incident will probably land in the dark without any result as the people who died didn’t belong to the elite class of society.

FAWAD MASEEL JAFARI Karachi

Magical elixir THE conflagrations in Karachi and Lahore factories show how insensible and sluggish the whole system of Pakistan is.

Even though problems do have a real existence in Pakistan, the idea that ‘impossible is often untried’ cannot be denied. In fact, there is always a possibility of things to take place, if one tries for it. Such critical situations can be resolved if plans and policies are devised accordingly.

First, proper checks and balances before and after allotment of such factories should be given priority and the NOC should not be issued unless the safety requirements are fulfilled.

Second, the cancellation of licence should be made mandatory in case the owner is not taking heed to work according to the prescribed laws.

Third, to instigate life insurance for the workers at all levels so that in case of any loss, their loved ones can get the benefit.

Fourth, government officials should summon the committee and a group of civil servants to plan a draft against all those who were behind the scene and also to devise mutual policies in which emergency exits, proper alarming system and sprinkling system should be given importance.

Furthermore, there is a dire need of such government institutions where workers could be trained free of cost. The training should include weekly practices in which all the workers play their role. In this way workers are always ready to deal with psychological pressures.

To recapitulate, when weakness lies inside, the external threats (western) are not to be blamed. Nowadays, everyone is busy in the ‘get rich quick’ scheme which is the major cause of our hurdles.

ARJUMAND ZEHRA Karachi