The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has given Karachi residents three days to install fire safety measures in the wake of the Gul Plaza catastrophe, according to News Channel. Officials claim that the SBCA has sent a written notification to the Chairman of the Association of Builders and Developers of Pakistan (ABAD) instructing property owners and builders to promptly implement fire safety measures found in recent audits. Six buildings in the South and East districts underwent fire safety audits on Tuesday, according to SBCA authorities. Commercial centers will also receive notices directing them to implement appropriate fire safety systems.
Builders and owners who have neglected to take the necessary precautions have been given three days to do so, according to the SBCA, with officials emphasizing that the actions are crucial in the public interest. The authorities emphasized that all business buildings must have firefighting and fire prevention equipment installed within the allotted time. Officials warned that after the three-day period, any commercial property discovered to lack a functional fire protection system will be sealed. Gul Plaza records are complete, and SBCA denies that any documents are missing.
An SBCA spokeswoman stated on Tuesday that the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has rejected allegations that documents were missing and underlined that all approved designs, construction details, and legal records pertaining to Gul Plaza are properly maintained. Gul Plaza was first built in the 1970s, according to the authority, and a new building design was approved in 1998. The completed plan was formally acknowledged in 2003 when the project was subsequently regularized by the Regularization Amendment Ordinance of 2001. In 2005, the building had a new NOC that was enforced and publicized.
The SBCA states that the approved Gul Plaza construction has 1,102 legally sanctioned stores spread across a basement, ground floor, first, second, and third floors. Additionally, the construction plan includes sixteen staircases and emergency exits, all of which were built in compliance with authorized rules.
