The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has permitted the construction of high-rise buildings in the metropolis, but it lacks the required equipment to extinguish fire at tall buildings.
“This lack of proper equipment to put out fire at high-rise buildings can result in another catastrophe such as burning of the Marriott Hotel when an explosive-laden truck exploded near its main gate. The authorities badly failed to extinguish the fire which caused a loss of millions of rupees,” an official told Pakistan Today on condition of anonymity.
He said the civic body purchased in 2006 some firefighting vehicles which could operate only up to a 68-meter height, while some existing and under-construction buildings are up to 100-meter tall. “The CDA purchased the equipment worth Rs 600 million without keeping in mind the future needs,” he said.
The official said despite spending a huge amount of money on the purchase of the equipment, the CDA was not capable of protecting the civilians in case of any emergency such as those at Shahad-e-Malit Secretariat, Marriott Hotel and Beverly Centre, Blue Area. The official said the construction of a 37-storey building in the federal capital in F-8/G-8 Blue Area was in is in progress.
“It will be the biggest building in the capital having a shopping mall, apartments and a hotel and will be spread over an area of 2.7 million square feet,” he said. The official said the construction of high-rise buildings was on the rise in the capital, but the CDA had made no planning to deal with a big fire. “The civic authority allocates huge funds for other development projects but makes no efforts to upgrade the fire brigade,” he added.
“The CDA has not allocated any funds to construct parking for the fire fighters over a piece of land purchased in 2006.” The official said in 2006 the CDA purchased 35 vehicles, including two fire ladders that could operate up to 68 meters, two snorkels, 10 fire tenders with 10,000-litre water capacity, 10 others with 7,200 litres water capacity, five mini fire tenders, two ambulances and four commander vans.
