Punjab to appoint fire safety officers in all government hospitals

The Punjab government has announced it will appoint dedicated Fire Safety Officers at all government hospitals across the province. The move is part of a broader push to enhance safety measures in healthcare facilities following the recent deadly fire at PIMS hospital in Islamabad.

In Lahore, the city administration has ordered an immediate and comprehensive survey of fire hydrants in all government and private hospitals. The directive was issued by Lahore Division Commissioner Nauman Yousaf during a visit to Mayo Hospital and the Children’s Hospital on Thursday.

Accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Captain Ali Ejaz (R) and officials from Rescue 1122, WASA, and Civil Defence, the Commissioner instructed Rescue 1122 to complete the survey and submit a full report the same day. He emphasized a zero-tolerance approach to safety gaps and directed all relevant departments to coordinate on the installation of safety equipment, conduct electrical audits with LESCO, verify the functionality of fire extinguishers, and ensure clear access routes for fire brigade vehicles.

Further reports indicate that hospitals in several other major cities and provinces are also facing scrutiny over fire safety. Alarming safety gaps and failures have reportedly been identified in healthcare facilities in Faisalabad, Karachi, Hyderabad, and across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The Sindh government has expanded its directive on fire safety, ordering private schools across the province to also conduct safety audits and drills. This is in addition to the earlier order for all public and private hospitals.

The Sindh Health Care Commission on Thursday ordered an emergency fire safety audit of all public and private hospitals across the province. According to a notification, hospital administrations must conduct immediate audits and practical drills, and submit detailed reports on the findings, identified shortcomings, and corrective actions taken. The commission also directed a re-evaluation of approvals from Civil Defence and fire brigades and mandated that emergency exits remain clear of obstructions at all times.

Separately, the administration of Nishtar Hospital in Multan acknowledged that its fire-fighting facilities are incomplete. Dr. Rao Amjad, the hospital's medical superintendent, stated that while 300 fire extinguishers are functional, there are no smoke detectors in the wards. He added that work to install smoke detectors is underway and more equipment is being procured.

Following the deadly fire at Islamabad's PIMS hospital, a review of fire safety arrangements is now set to be conducted at hospitals across Pakistan. This expands on earlier directives from the governments of Punjab and Sindh, which had already ordered safety audits and enhanced measures in their respective provinces.

In Rawalpindi, the Deputy Commissioner has also sought an urgent report on the fire safety arrangements in the district's government hospitals.