Karachi, Pakistan – In a move to ensure the safety of residents in Karachi, the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has issued a three-day deadline for the installation of a fire safety system in buildings. The directive was issued in a letter to the Chairman of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), stating that the KMC must implement the fire safety audit that was conducted recently. Those building owners who failed to take safety measures have been given a three-day reprieve to comply with the order.
This move comes after a devastating fire broke out at a building in the Bhikijhora area of Karachi, leaving eight people injured. The rescue operation is still underway, with 48 people undergoing post-mortem and 86 still unaccounted for. The SBCA has assured that the operation to retrieve bodies from the rubble will continue until all remains are recovered.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecasted rain showers in Karachi from 2 pm to 6 pm today. Heavy rain and snowfall have also been reported in various parts of Balochistan.
In a separate incident, a two-year-old girl was injured in a leopard attack in the Bhikijhora area. The girl was taken to a nearby hospital with injuries to her ear and neck.
In other news, a bill to amend Articles 51 and 106 of the Constitution was tabled in the National Assembly by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member Muhammad Aslam Ghuman. The bill proposes to increase the punishment for driving under the influence and causing death to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5 million.
In a police encounter in Karachi, a suspect was killed and a pistol, a rifle, and a motorbike were recovered. A video has surfaced showing a woman searching for a staircase in a shopping plaza.
In an interview on Geo News’ program Capital Talk, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was asked to explain where the devolution of powers had been taken.
