CDA staff directed to ensure strict implementation

[Salman]

Islamabad : Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Syed Tahir Shahbaz has directed the concerned officials to ensure implementation of the Islamabad Fire Prevention and Life Safety Regulations 2010 and CDA Building Standards’ for Fire Safety.

He also directed the relevant officials to take effective measures to make the Directorate of Emergency and Disaster Management fully functional in line with modern techniques to prevent and
mitigate effects of disasters, natural calamities and emergencies, especially in case of fire.

The CDA chairman was chairing a meeting at the CDA Headquarters. CDA Member Environment Ahsan Ali Mangi, who is heading the Directorate of Emergency and Disaster Management, the Civic Management director general and officers of concerned formations of the authority were present on the occasion.
Syed Tahir Shahbaz expressed displeasure and concern over actions taken against rules and policy in the past according to which many firemen managed to get changed their cadres, which was done unlawfully and against the terms and conditions of their appointment. Moreover, a few officers belonging to the Emergency and Disaster Management cadre got themselves posted in other formations. The

CDA chairman asked themember environment and member administration to retrieve the services of professionals and experts in emergency and disaster management working in various formations of the authority forthwith.

He also directed for revival of training academy refresher courses of the concerned staff of Emergency and Disaster Management. The member environment apprised the CDA chairman that the government has approved and notified the CDA Building Standards for Fire Prevention and Life Safety 2010 and the Islamabad Fire Prevention and Life Safety Regulations 2010 for taking precautionary measures to prevent and control fires accordingly. He informed that the purpose of safety regulations is to cope with any untoward incident in case of fire and to control damage and casualties.

He said that before the formal approval of the safety regulations, the Directorate of Emergency and Disaster Management conducted a detailed survey of government offices and high-rise buildings in the federal capital. During the survey, it was found that fire-extinguishing devices and other fire safety tools have not been installed and mostly missing in these buildings. In the light of the survey, the Capital Development Authority compiled detailed safety regulations as per international standards, which were approved by the CDA Board. The safety regulations were submitted to the government for formal approval, said the member environment.

CDA Chairman Syed Tahir Shahbaz said that Fire Prevention and Life Safety Regulations 2010 were prepared as per international standards and other government departments could get benefits from these safety regulations. He said that the CDA is the only municipality in the country, which has promulgated these regulations. Under the safety regulations, the CDA has the powers to get vacated or seal any building or impose fines of up to Rs500,000 if it finds any violation of regulations.