ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority has sealed three buildings in the city’s commercial hub for failing to comply with fire safety regulations, officials said Monday.
The Shaheed-e-Millat Secretariat, State Life Building and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan Building in Blue Area were shut down after inspections revealed unresolved safety deficiencies, according to the CDA’s Fire & Emergency Services Directorate.
CDA Chairman Sohail Ashraf ordered the enforcement action and directed authorities to adopt a zero-tolerance approach toward fire safety violations.
“No building, institution or organization can be permitted to compromise the lives and safety of people by ignoring essential fire prevention and emergency response requirements,” Ashraf said in a statement.
The fire safety directorate has been conducting building inspections across Islamabad to identify violations related to emergency exits, firefighting equipment, evacuation plans and other life-safety measures.
The CDA’s Building Control Section has been instructed to give building administrations a prescribed timeframe to correct deficiencies.
Officials said the enforcement drive is not merely an inspection exercise but a practical initiative aimed at preventing avoidable loss of life and property.
Ashraf directed relevant departments to maintain close monitoring of compliance and ensure that safety observations are followed by corrective measures.
The CDA urged all government departments, public sector organizations, commercial establishments and private building owners to review their fire safety arrangements immediately.
“Fire safety is a collective responsibility,” Ashraf said. “Timely installation and maintenance of firefighting equipment, clear emergency exits, proper evacuation arrangements and compliance with safety protocols can save lives during an emergency.”
The authority said it would provide opportunities for building administrations to rectify deficiencies but warned that continued noncompliance would not be tolerated.
“Protection of human lives is the first and foremost responsibility,” the CDA said. “No compromise will be made on fire and life safety.”
