Karachi completes fire safety audits of 1,369 buildings

Fire safety audits of buildings are underway across all districts of Karachi under the supervision of the karachi commissioner, following directives issued by the Sindh government. Officials confirmed that audits for a total of 1,369 buildings have been finished so far, aiming to eliminate risk factors and enforce safety standards.

During a review meeting chaired by Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi, updates were shared regarding various administrative steps taken to improve safety compliance. The Sindh Building Control Authority has begun uploading building plans to the dedicated Safety Audit Portal, with maps for 207 structures uploaded thus far. Additionally, the Association of Builders and Developers will upload its member building plans to the portal.

Safety audits and digital map uploads aim to prevent fire incidents across Karachi.

Officials reported a positive decline in high-risk and non-compliant buildings due to ongoing measures. Assistant Commissioners have issued reminder notices to 17 non-compliant properties, sealed one building, and conducted fire drills across 279 locations. Furthermore, a decision was made to train firefighters from the KMC Fire Brigade and Rescue 1122 in reading building plans, a collaborative initiative involving the Association of Builders and Developers.

Provincial Disaster Management Authority analyst Diyal Das Rathore briefed attendees on risk assessments and building classifications. The commissioner instructed Deputy Commissioners to revisit properties requiring additional risk reduction, strengthen standard operating procedures, and ensure close coordination among all departments.

Why it matters

The ongoing safety audits and digital integration of building plans across Karachi's districts aim to mitigate fire hazards and improve emergency response coordination. These administrative measures directly impact commercial and residential occupants by enforcing compliance and reducing structural risks.