KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Tuesday issued notices to senior government functionaries on a petition seeking implementation of laws regarding fire safety in buildings and prevention of fire related incidents in high-rises of the city.

A two-judge bench headed by acting Chief Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi put on notice chief secretary, home secretary, Karachi commissioner, Sindh Building Control Authority director general, chief executive officer of the Faisal Cantonment Board, president of the Pakistan Engineering Council and others.

Advocate Nadeem A. Shaikh filed a petition after a fire incident at a shopping mall located on Rashid Minhas Road in which 11 people died.

The petitioner sought directives for the respondents to strictly monitor all fire safety rules and regulations as set in the Building Code of Pakistan-Fire Safety Provisions-2016.

He also submitted that the no-objection certificate or a completion certificate of any newly constructed building may not be issued until the fire safety rules and regulations were strictly followed.

Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2023