ISLAMABAD, Sept 19: Chairman National Assembly Standing Committee for Human Rights, Riaz Fatiyana said that standing committee has taken notice of the recent incident in which 289 people were killed in a factory, in Karachi.

He was speaking to the participants of the candle light vigil, held on Wednesday to show solidarity with the families of people who died because of fire in Karachi, Lahore and who died because of floods all over the country.

Riaz Fatiyana who belongs to Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) said that security of life is the first responsibility of the state but unfortunately in Karachi and Lahore departments who are responsible to protect lives, failed to do their job.

“In Karachi designs of buildings was incorrect, emergency exits were sealed, windows were closed. There was no fire fighting equipment. So responsibility should be fixed,” he said.

“Every year around 8,000 citizens die because of accidents in Pakistan. We have to make a system to secure precious lives. Member of standing committee will go to Karachi to see the factory,” he said.

Human Rights Activist, Khawaja Ziaul Haq said that vigil has been organised to give a message to rulers that human life is not worth Rs200,000. Proper inquiry should be done to find out the reasons behind fire, he said.

Bushra Firdous representative of an NGO said that law should be made to have a check on industries and civil defence department should
conduct survey after every three months to assure that if there was fire fighting equipment.

Munir Ahmed of NGO Devcom said that fire fighting equipment should be placed in every building all over the country.

He said that media should give awareness to masses about the incidents and even fire fighting equipment should be placed in media houses to deal with fire, he added.