Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has launched sweeping fire safety reforms across the province in response to recent deadly fire incidents in Lahore and Karachi’s Gul Plaza. The measures aim to strengthen enforcement, improve preparedness, and prevent loss of life from avoidable hazards.

Chairing a high-level meeting on January 27, the chief minister made it clear that firefighting would no longer be treated as a routine formality. She told Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners that strict enforcement of standard operating procedures would now directly define their performance. Monthly fire drills have been made mandatory, with compliance linked to officials’ KPIs.

Under the new fire safety reforms in Punjab, all commercial and multi-storey buildings have been directed to install fire hydrants within one month. A province-wide safety audit of schools, hospitals, markets, and other public buildings has also been launched. The CM ordered full enforcement of the Building Safety Act within two weeks.

The government has approved the installation of 1,157 water hydrants across Punjab’s nine divisions. Large buildings will be required to install automatic sprinkler systems, smoke detectors, and CCTV cameras. Multi-storey structures must also construct externally ventilated staircases to ensure safe evacuation during emergencies.

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A dedicated Fire Inspectorate Unit has been approved under Rescue 1122 to monitor preparedness and enforce fire safety reforms across the province. Authorities have also banned boilers and storage of flammable materials in building basements.

The chief minister ordered immediate removal of encroachments blocking emergency exits in congested markets, including Lahore’s Shah Alam Market. Maryam Nawaz said negligence will not be tolerated, stressing that no citizen or worker should lose their life due to preventable fire risks.