FAISALABAD. Two successive incidents of fire are an eye opener and government must enhance the capabilities of the concerned departments and efficiently control any future fire emergency particularly in industrial or commercial institutions, said Engineer Muhammad Saeed Sheikh President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI).
In a statement issued have he said that Faisalabad is industrial hub of Pakistan. Hence incidents of fire or outbreak of other emergencies are just natural. He told that industrialists have made adequate safety measures at their factory level but involvement of specific government departments become imperative in case of any major emergency.
He said that government, district administration and local bodies’ institutions have failed to fulfill their responsibilities. “It is clearly indicated by un-proportionate numbers of skilled firefighters and fleet of fire fighting vehicles which are also ill equipped.”, he said and added that government must conduct study for each area and depute proportionate numbers of staff and vehicles that could rush to any troubled spot positively within 10 minutes. He said that in addition of standard sized water tankers and Bowzers, fully loaded small vehicles should also be allocated for each Industrial cluster. He told that being chairman Kurrianwala Industries Association, he had purchased five fire fighting vehicles which were utilized not only for the industrial belt of Kurrianwala but also for emergencies in other parts of the city.
These vehicles were purchased under the Citizen, Community Board (CCB) with equity of 20:80. He said that now after the revival of local bodies system, the government should also encourage such public welfare project with Public-Private-Partnerships. He said that industrialists are ready to contribute their role and undertake maximum projects of public welfare. Provision of necessary fire fighting gadgets will also helps us in minimizing the financial as well as life losses in case of sudden fire or other emergency.
Engineer Muhammad Saeed Sheikh also expressed sympathies with the affected industrialists and demanded that government should extend immediate moral as well as financial help to the affectees of the recent incidents of fire.
Meanwhile, Engineer Muhammad Saeed Shiekh President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) has expressed deep sense of sorrow and grief or the sad demise of the mother of Professor Dr. Iqrar Ahmad vice Chancellor University of agriculture Faisalabad.
In his condolence message, he has prayed rest for the departed soul and patience for the bereaved family.