The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Monday announced plans to introduce modern firefighting techniques, including the use of drones, to respond more effectively to fire incidents in high-rise buildings in the federal capital.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by CDA Chairman and Chief Commissioner Islamabad Muhammad Ali Randhawa at the authority’s headquarters, where fire safety measures and emergency preparedness for tall and sensitive structures were reviewed.
The meeting was attended by CDA Member Finance Tahir Naeem, Member Planning and Design Dr Khalid Hafiz, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Irfan Nawaz Memon, and senior officials from the Building and Housing Control Directorate and Capital Emergency Services.
Officials briefed the meeting that under the proposed plan, drones would assist firefighting operations in high-rise buildings, particularly in situations where physical access for rescue teams is difficult. The initiative is part of a broader effort to modernise Islamabad’s emergency response system.
Participants were informed that approval of a building’s fire safety plan by the CDA is mandatory before the construction of any new structure. It was also reiterated that fire certification in accordance with Pakistan Engineering Council codes is compulsory for all new public and private buildings.
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Chairman Randhawa directed that all high-rise buildings in Islamabad be surveyed and categorised, stressing that functional fire safety systems and clearly marked emergency exits must be ensured in every such structure.
He further instructed officials to establish a clear mechanism to ensure older and sensitive buildings fully comply with fire safety regulations, and called for stricter implementation of the fire safety audit system.
The CDA chairman also directed Capital Emergency Services, in coordination with the district administration, to conduct regular emergency simulation exercises in high-rise buildings and to immediately fulfil the department’s human resource requirements.
The meeting also reviewed plans to establish a modern, digital-based Emergency Operation Centre and to set up new rescue stations at key locations across the city.
Randhawa said work was underway on a comprehensive legal and operational framework to deal with emergencies and disasters in the federal capital, adding that protecting citizens’ lives and property remained a top priority.
