Yesterday, the PNSC Building off Keamari flyover caught fire and at least 5 floors of the building were completely damaged. The building was, at one time, the 2nd tallest building in the country. The fire started on the 11th floor in the morning and by afternoon the fire-fighting authorities had left the building to itself because there was no way of getting to those floors. 24 snorkels were used to put off the fire however most snorkels weren’t able to propel water more than 9 floors. Hence, the brave fire-fighters tried their best, and managed, to stop the fire from spreading downwards. Also, Pakistan Navy helicopters managed to rescue six people who had managed to run up to the roof. 4 fire-fighters fainted due to the smoke.
However, the real irony lies in the fact that at a time when our planning authorities are giving permission to build high-rise buildings we don’t have the ability to provide the necessary fire-fighting facilities to relatively much smaller buildings.
I would like to quote Dawn’s report on this:
About 24 fire-tenders, eight belonging to the KPT and the rest from various parts of the city, were working constantly to put out the flames.
The two KPT-operated snorkels did not have enough pressure to propel water even up to the 8th floor, while the city government’s snorkel fared a little better, managing to spray water a little above the 9th floor.
Ironically, the KPT has approval to build the Rs. 20 billion KPT Tower Complex, which will be 1,947 ft. high (a patriotic gesture). If it was completed today it would be the tallest building in the world. However, on the other hand, neither KPT nor anyone else has the ability to fight an eleven storey fire. One would hope they use fire-resistant materials in the building and have proper fire-safety procedures in place, but even then the city would need better fire-fighting facilities for the future. The KPT (which generously spends on fountains and underpasses) should consider spending some of that money on fire-fighting facilities. These tall buildings could become very dangerous otherwise.
I completely agree with your observation Hakim…However as it is with every tragedy in Pakistan, and indeed the world over, there are a number of conspircacy theories doing the rounds as to the circumstances which led to his fire and the efforst to douse the fire.
Apparently a number of legal cases were to begin this month regarding corruption in the KPT, and the majority of what burned down during this fire were critical documents related to the pending cases. Now this is a claim made by a local channel well-known for dramatizing prime time news and therefore i wont comment…but I still wouldnt put it above the KPT authorities to pull such a desperate act…
From what I know important documents relating to the PNSC were destroyed. Is that in any way connected to KPT? Yes, it is. It is a possibility that documents relating to the cases were held in PNSC offices. After all the Director of Ministry of Ports and Shipping is by law someone on attachment from PNSC. Hence, very close links between the two. I wouldn’t be surprised if this was the case. We’ll have to wait and see what documents were destroyed.