Sobia Khan
Karachi: The Humaara Karachi Movement, led by renowned architect Yasmeen Lari, formally launched its citywide citizen initiative with a Street Assembly on fire safety at Denso Hall Rahguzar Walking Street.
The assembly follows the recent Gul Plaza tragedy and marks the beginning of what organisers described as a structured, zero-funding and non-political campaign aimed at improving fire safety standards and civic responsibility across Karachi.
Collaboration with Professional Bodies
The event was organised by the Humaara Karachi Core Committee in collaboration with the Heritage Foundation of Pakistan, Institute of Architects Pakistan and Association of Consulting Engineers Pakistan.
The focus of the assembly was to review fire protection arrangements in Rahguzar buildings and the adjoining medicine market, an area identified as high risk due to dense commercial activity and aging infrastructure.
Live Fire Drill and Technical Review
The programme began with a live fire drill demonstration at 11:30am, followed by a recitation from the Holy Quran, welcome remarks and a detailed technical presentation.
Senior engineer Farooq Mehboob delivered a comprehensive briefing on fire hazards in the medicine market. His assessment was based on detailed building surveys and consultations with property owners.
He identified key risks including structural weaknesses, blocked access points, unsafe electrical wiring, and the absence of coordinated evacuation plans.
Practical Recommendations
The assembly outlined a series of actionable measures, including:
- Ensuring emergency vehicle access
- Installing mandatory fire detection systems
- Establishing clearly marked escape routes
- Planning rooftop access for rescue operations
- Managing electrical load distribution
- Installing fire extinguishers and hydrant systems
- Conducting coordinated evacuation drills for occupants and traders
A question-and-answer session allowed residents, shopkeepers and professionals to engage directly with experts and discuss implementation strategies.
Official Support and Next Steps
Organisers thanked District Commissioner South Javed Khoso and Assistant Commissioner Aram Bagh for facilitating permissions and ensuring smooth conduct of the event.
Humaara Karachi described itself as a citizen-driven platform prioritising prevention, regulatory compliance and collective responsibility. The movement plans to hold further structured assemblies, technical reviews and awareness sessions across high-risk commercial zones in the city.
For coordination and information, organisers have shared contact numbers for WhatsApp communication.
