A fire broke out on Wednesday on the 6th floor of the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) Building located in the Civic Center. The fire, reportedly caused by a fault in the solar panel and wiring system, was successfully brought under control due to the swift and coordinated efforts of emergency responders.
Fire tenders from both the Civic Center Fire Station and Gulshan-e-Iqbal Fire Station responded promptly. A total of 22 fire extinguishers and 3 foam boxes were utilized to suppress the flames.
Crucially, the fire posed a serious threat to the Health Department office and the record room on the same floor, but thanks to timely firefighting efforts, both were saved from damage. The quick intervention also prevented the fire from spreading further and causing extensive harm to the Civic Center’s infrastructure.
However, sources revealed that the KDA Building lacked a proper fire and safety system. There were no functioning fire extinguishers available on-site, which could have significantly worsened the situation if not for the rapid external response.
The entire operation was conducted under the supervision of Mr. Zulfiqar Ali, Incharge of the Civic Center Fire Station, KMC. Mr. Akbar, Security Incharge, along with his team and other senior officials including Director Land KDA Asif Raza Chandio, were present at the scene. Clearance was given after the situation was fully under control, following which firefighting teams returned to their stations.
This incident highlights the urgent need for the KDA to install proper fire safety equipment and implement preventive measures to safeguard both personnel and public records in the future.
