KARACHI: Fire safety reports submitted by 22 government hospitals in Sindh have revealed serious gaps in emergency preparedness, including the absence of fire alarms and water sprinklers at several major public healthcare facilities.
According to the reports submitted to the Sindh government, Karachi’s Civil Hospital has 180 operational fire extinguishers, but no fire alarm or sprinkler system. The 1,750-bed facility also requires repairs to its electrical wiring, raising concerns over potential fire hazards.
Jinnah Hospital Karachi, which has 2,208 beds, has 208 functional fire extinguishers but lacks fire alarms and sprinklers. Its electrical wiring also requires repairs. However, the hospital reportedly conducts fire drills on a regular basis, providing some level of emergency preparedness.
The situation at the National Institute of Child Health (NICH) is also concerning. Of its 135 fire extinguishers, 40 were found to be defective. The 533-bed hospital has no fire alarm system, while fire drills are not conducted regularly. Its electrical wiring requires extensive repair work.
At the 700-bed Lyari General Hospital, only 20 fire extinguishers are operational and just one alarm is available. The hospital has no water sprinkler system, while regular fire drills are also reportedly absent.
Qatar Hospital in Orangi has only 25 operational extinguishers and no fire alarm, while Saudabad Hospital has 18 functional extinguishers but lacks a fire alarm and regular drill system.
Not all facilities were found to have inadequate arrangements. The report described fire safety measures at S.M.B.B. Trauma Centre and Korangi Children Institute as satisfactory. The trauma centre has 180 extinguishers, 45 alarms and 39 operational fire hydrants, while Korangi Children Institute has 39 extinguishers and 39 fire balls, with working alarms and regular drills.
Reports from other districts also highlighted safety concerns. GMMMC Hospital Sukkur has only 20 fire extinguishers, with no alarms or sprinklers, while the safety exit of its children’s ward is reportedly not clear. SIMS Hospital Shahdadpur has only five extinguishers and no fire alarm.
LUMHS Hyderabad has 110 operational extinguishers but lacks alarms and sprinklers, while LUMHS Jamshoro has 32 extinguishers without the required alarm and sprinkler systems.
