China is set to provide Islamabad with 21 modern fire and rescue vehicles and emergency equipment worth around Rs3 billion, following a deadly fire at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).
The vehicles will be supplied under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Pakistan and China in 2024.
According to media reports, the package is valued at 72.31 million Chinese yuan, equivalent to about Rs3 billion.
The package includes firefighting vehicles and specialised equipment for rescue and emergency operations.
One of the key vehicles is a modern snorkel fire tender designed to reach high-rise buildings. It can reportedly operate at heights of about 88 metres, compared with around 68 metres for similar vehicles currently available to Islamabad’s fire and rescue service.
The new equipment is expected to improve the capital’s ability to respond to fires, traffic accidents, building collapses, natural disasters and other emergencies.
The planned assistance comes after a fire in the nursery ward at PIMS in which 14 newborn babies died.
The incident raised concerns over fire safety, emergency exits and rescue facilities at hospitals and other buildings in Islamabad.
Sources said the last major purchase of fire vehicles and related equipment for the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) Fire and Rescue Department was made in 2006.
The Chinese package is therefore expected to help modernise the capital’s ageing firefighting and emergency response system.
The equipment will support the Capital Emergency Service and CDA Fire Department, with specialised vehicles and tools also intended for urban search and rescue operations and other emergencies.
Read more: Pakistan women’s cricketer Aiman Anwar announces retirement
Also read: Mahira Khan returns to drama series as first teaser of ‘Mitti De Baway’ released
