ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain formally launched Building Codes of Pakistan-Fire Safety Provisions 2016 during an impressive ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr, Islamabad on Monday.
The first ever Life & Fire Safety Provision for the existing Building Codes are comprehensive based on International Standards and also customized to the environment of Pakistan. It is expected that these Fire and Life Safety Provisions would bring a material difference in defining building safety standards and directions for fire safety.
Effective implementation of these provision by the concerned authorities would most likely and substantially reduce fire related risks to human lives and properties. Formulation of these Fire Safety Codes is a significant achievement and an important mile stone in the history of the Country’s efforts towards achieving the objective of Disaster Resilient Pakistan.
Speaking on the occasion President Mamnoon Hussain called for measures to improve safety of old buildings and congested areas.
The President pointed out that the new code would be applicable to new buildings but there are more risks of fire in old and dilapidated building, hanging electricity wires and other cables in areas of high population density.
President Mamnoon Hussain expressed satisfaction that the new building codes have been prepared keeping in view our local conditions. This would ensure their success. He hoped that process of further improving these codes would continue.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) took the leading role for the inclusion of Fire and Life Safety Provision in Building Codes of Pakistan and further NDMA entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Pakistan Engineering Council in October 2015 for preparation of holistic Life and Fire Safety Provisions.
Funding for the development of these provisions was also arranged by NDMA. These Fire Safety Provisions, prepared by a High Level Task Force were formally approved by the PEC Governing Board and vetted by the Ministry of Law and Justice.
The Building Codes of Pakistan were formulated in 1986 and later modified in 2007. Those building codes did not had the provision for Life and Fire Safety, fire prevention, life safety in relation to fire and fire protection of buildings and structures.
All the buildings in the public and private sector thus were devoid of structure fire prevention. Fire prevention arrangements were made on adhoc basis without any national regulatory framework/code. With the introduction of these first ever Fire and Life Safety Provisions, in Building Code, this present shortcoming would be overcome.
Federal Minister for Science & Technology, Rana Tanvir Hussain, Chairman NDMA Maj General Asghar Nawaz, Chairman Pakistan Engineering Council Jawed Salim Qureshi also addressed at the occasion. Chairman NDMA Major General Asghar Nawaz and Chairman PEC Engr. Jawed Salim Qurashi presented the Fire Safety Provisions 2016, Code Book to the President. As a word of recognition of services, the President presented certificates of recognition to the member of the High Level Task Force constituted by PEC for the formulation of the Fire safety Provisions.
