Rescuing Karachi's fire brigade
For the past 8 years, the technical staff of the department is also forced to witness the gradual degradation of its capabilities sitting at home. Photo: Dunya News
(Dunya News) – The fire brigade department, the fifth line of defence in rescue and emergency situations, is itself demanding to be rescued.
With out-of-order vehicles and lack of resources, the department is struggling to do its job – rescue lives.
The department in Karachi had a fleet of 60 fire brigades in 2010. In 2011, an agreement was signed with a company named FRC to repair fire tenders. Eight years into that agreement and only 18 vehicles are left now.
The department in Karachi had a fleet of 60 fire brigades in 2010. Photo: Dunya News
Surprisingly, despite this performance, repair costs being billed by the company are being paid and the repair tenders are also not being given to any other company.
According to Arshad Vohra, deputy mayor Karachi, if an assessment of the payments made under the head of ‘repair’ is done, an altogether new fire brigade could have been set up using the same funds.
With out-of-order vehicles and lack of resources the department is struggling to do its job. Photo: Dunya News
Two expensive fire snorkels equipped with latest gadgets and technology are also out of order and have subsequently been grounded.
For the past 8 years, the technical staff of the department is also forced to witness the gradual degradation of its capabilities sitting at home.
The department which is responsible for protecting lives of citizens and infrastructure is now left seeking help for its own survival.
For more on this, watch a report by Dunya News below.
