At least 44 public and private hospitals and healthcare facilities in Islamabad have been issued notices over fire and life safety measures, but several institutions have still failed to fully implement the required safety measures, according to official documents. It is worth mentioning that Islamabad’s second-largest public sector “Polyclinic Hospital” has also lacked fire safety measures.
The documents show that the Emergency and Disaster Management Directorate of the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) repeatedly warned various public and private hospitals in the capital to improve their fire safety arrangements.
Among the 44 healthcare facilities issued fire and life safety notices was the Capital Hospital of the Capital Development Authority (CDA). Polyclinic, Capital Hospital and 42 other public and private hospitals had also been directed to complete the required safety arrangements.
According to the documents, Capital Hospital was issued a fire safety fitness notice and a hazard alert. The MCI raised concerns over the hospital’s fire safety preparedness and directed the administration to ensure the installation of fire prevention, fire protection and life safety equipment.
The hospital administration was also instructed to complete a fire safety audit and other safety measures and obtain the mandatory fitness certificate and no-objection certificate (NOC). The MCI said the hospital had been repeatedly informed about the need for a fire safety audit between 2014 and 2023.
Authorities also made it mandatory for hospitals to have their fire safety plans approved and obtain a fire safety completion certificate. The plans were required to be vetted by a MEP consultant approved by the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC).
Hospitals were further directed to engage fire and rescue experts and PEC-registered contractors for the required safety work.
Capital Hospital was also instructed to conduct regular fire drills and emergency response exercises, with the administration given three months to complete all necessary safety measures.
However, despite repeated warnings and directives from the MCI’s Disaster Management Department, several healthcare facilities have yet to fully comply with the required fire and life safety standards.
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