Punjab Faces Critical Fire Preparedness Shortfalls in Urgent Need for Resources

Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province, is grappling with significant challenges in responding to fire emergencies despite repeated tragedies. Limited resources, outdated equipment, and weak preparedness have exposed serious gaps in public safety.

The province has not added major firefighting resources since 2019, currently having over 300 firefighting and rescue vehicles. In Lahore, a city with nearly 13 million inhabitants, Rescue 1122 operates just 58 fire tenders, far below international standards which require 260 for such a large urban area.

Ground realities often contradict these ideal standards. Many areas of Lahore still lack nearby fire stations, forcing vehicles to be dispatched from distant locations. Areas like Defence, Wagah, inner-city neighborhoods, and newly developed housing societies remain underserved. A new firefighting station has been established in Raiwind, but population-based planning remains absent.

Water availability is another major concern; fire vehicles often have to travel long distances to refill water, delaying response times. Ambulances and firefighting vehicles are frequently assigned to VIP duties, further reducing their availability for public emergencies.

An NGO head criticized the lack of preventive measures, highlighting issues like poor-quality electrical wiring in homes, markets, and high-rise buildings. Many large commercial buildings lack fire alarms, sprinkler systems, emergency exits, or trained staff. Rescue 1122’s claim of universal five-to-seven-minute response times is questioned by officials, noting that areas such as Gulberg depend entirely on the Muslim Town fire station.

In 2025 alone, Punjab recorded 28,495 fire incidents resulting in 99 deaths, over 1,000 injuries, and losses worth billions of rupees. Rescue data shows most fires were caused by short circuits (10,018), negligence (5,755), gas leaks (1,355), candle usage (1,315), and kitchen fires (340). Lahore reported the highest number.

A Fire Safety Audit conducted by the Punjab Emergency and Rescue Department assessed 2,214 buildings, markets, and plazas. The findings were alarming: 1,722 buildings were categorized as “D Category,” meaning extremely dangerous. Lahore emerged as the most vulnerable city with 682 buildings in D Category and 13 declared extremely hazardous.

“The inner city has many plazas and markets where controlling a fire would be extremely difficult,” said Muhammad Usman, a resident of Shah Alam Market. Narrow streets prevent fire brigade vehicles from entering, causing serious challenges for Rescue services. There is also no clear operating procedure. Fires in Lahore have claimed many precious lives.”

Several past incidents highlighted these shortcomings. When a plaza caught fire in Shah Alam Market, narrow streets prevented fire vehicles and ambulances from reaching the site. Fire hoses were extended as far as possible, and helicopters were used to drop water.

In 2013, a factory collapse at Sundar Industrial Estate required assistance from private housing societies due to a lack of heavy rescue machinery. More recently, in 2025, a fire broke out at the LDA Plaza, causing an uncontrollable spread and jumping death of 23 people.

To address these issues, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz ordered an immediate province-wide fire safety audit. The government has directed that all high-rise buildings, markets, schools, and hospitals ensure proper safety arrangements. Secretary Emergency Services Dr Rizwan Naseer reported a 3.34 percent increase in fire incidents in 2025 compared to 2024, following a sharp 35 percent rise in 2024 over 2023.

Building owners are urged to comply with the Punjab Community Safety Building Regulations 2022 to protect residents and property. Despite these steps, experts warn that without sustained investment, strict enforcement, and preventive planning, Punjab remains vulnerable to a major fire disaster.