SBCA asks owners to implement fire safety measures at their factories

KARACHI: The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has issued urgent directives to factory owners across the province to ensure comprehensive fire safety arrangements at their industrial premises, as protecting human lives must remain the foremost priority. The authority has also displayed advisory banners at factories, urging owners and management to comply with fire safety requirements and take immediate preventive measures. The SBCA said ensuring the safety of industrial establishments was essential to achieving the objective of a “Safe Sindh, Strong Sindh, ” and issued a set of mandatory guidelines for factory owners. It directed factory owners to obtain the required AOP/Occupancy Certificate from the relevant authority for their industrial premises without delay. They have also been instructed to immediately install approved firefighting equipment and modern fire safety systems and ensure their proper maintenance and functionality. The SBCA directed that all emergency exits inside factories must remain clearly accessible, open and completely free of obstructions at all times to facilitate the safe evacuation of workers and other occupants during an emergency. Factory management has been asked to provide an adequate number of fire extinguishers at easily accessible, appropriate locations and ensure the equipment remains fully functional. The authority further called for the installation of reliable fire alarm systems, with regular maintenance and periodic testing to ensure their effectiveness in the event of a fire. For electrical safety, factory owners were directed to ensure safe wiring, prevent overloading of electrical systems and conduct regular electrical inspections to identify and address potential hazards. The SBCA urged all factory owners and management to treat the protection of human lives and compliance with safety regulations as their primary responsibility. The authority called for collective efforts to promote safer industrial establishments and strengthen fire safety standards in the province. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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