The Knowledge Forum organised a multi-stakeholder dialogue titled “Fire Safety: Building Regulations and Workers Protection” at the Karachi Press Club on January 31, 2026.
Urban planners, fire safety experts, labour rights activists and civil society representatives participating in the discussion expressed serious concern over recurring fire incidents in Karachi and called for urgent reforms in building regulations, fire safety mechanisms and workers’ protection systems.
Speakers observed that rapid urbanisation, weak implementation of safety laws and the absence of effective monitoring had made the city increasingly vulnerable to fire disasters.
Amber Alibhai of Shehri-Citizens for a Better Environment (CBE) highlighted the lack of awareness regarding fire safety among both citizens and government institutions. She criticised the conversion of public spaces into commercial buildings without ensuring basic safety measures. According to her, many commercial buildings lack fire extinguishers, emergency exits and alternative escape routes, putting thousands of lives at risk.
Occupational Health and Safety expert Naeem Sadiq proposed the formation of a citizens commission to monitor safety arrangements in public places and ensure enforcement of building bylaws. He said Karachi’s emergency response capacity had failed to keep pace with the city’s rapid growth. Referring to tragedies such as the Baldia factory fire, he said repeated incidents had not led to meaningful reforms or accountability.
Zahid Farooque of the Urban Resource Centre (URC) said unchecked construction of high-rise buildings without proper safety planning had increased the risk of disasters in Karachi. He stressed the need for emergency exits and effective fire safety systems in multi-storey buildings.
Tariq Moin of the Fire Protection Association of Pakistan (FPAP) said the Building Code of Pakistan 2016 contained comprehensive fire safety guidelines, but implementation remained weak. He noted that smoke, rather than fire itself, caused most fatalities and stressed the importance of evacuation drills, smoke detectors, sprinklers and emergency exits.
Fire expert Saeed Jadoon highlighted major fire incidents in Karachi and called for modernisation of firefighting systems and legislation.
Concluding the session, TKF Director Zeenia Shaukat emphasised that every building must have an approved fire safety plan regulated by competent authorities, adding that prevention remained the only effective solution.
