ISLAMABAD – The fire-safety alarm is ringing louder across capital days after PIMS tragic incident that took 14 newborn lives, and CDA intensified its inspections, and this time, Islamabad top hotel Marriott, gets a fire-safety notice after officials identified Inadequacies.
Capital Development Authority (CDA) issued notice to the Islamabad Marriott Hotel after an inspection uncovered deficiencies in its fire and life-safety arrangements.
The action, taken on September 1 under the Islamabad Fire Prevention and Life Safety Regulations, 2010, has put the hotel administration on notice to correct the shortcomings identified by CDA officials and ensure full compliance with prescribed safety requirements.
The development comes amid sweeping safety drive launched after the August 26 PIMS nursery fire claimed the lives of 14 newborn babies, triggering heightened concern over fire preparedness in buildings across the federal capital. Authorities intensified inspections of government facilities, commercial properties and private buildings, placing particular emphasis on emergency exits, firefighting systems and evacuation preparedness.
This comes amid much larger CDA inspection campaign conducted earlier this year, during which officials surveyed around 6,500 buildings across Islamabad. The exercise shows gaps in fire-safety compliance. A number of properties were found without approved fire-safety plans as well as required completion and fire-safety certificates.
Building administrations were subsequently instructed to obtain the necessary approvals and address safety deficiencies. Authorities also warned that continued non-compliance could result in fines and further enforcement.
The latest developments also show that CDA is now moving beyond warnings and inspections to direct action against properties where serious safety concerns remain unresolved.
As part of the intensified operation, the CDA has sealed Shaheed-e-Millat Secretariat, State Life Building and the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) building in Blue Area. The buildings were sealed after earlier fire-safety observations issued by the CDA’s Fire & Emergency Services Directorate were not adequately addressed.
The authority said the measures were taken under the applicable safety framework and stressed that buildings cannot be allowed to remain operational when essential safeguards for occupants are missing.
CDA Chairman Sohail Ashraf has directed the authority’s concerned departments to adopt a strict approach toward serious fire-safety violations. Under the intensified campaign, CDA teams are examining buildings for deficiencies involving firefighting equipment, emergency routes, evacuation arrangements, fire-prevention systems and overall preparedness for emergencies.
CDA made clear that properties failing to resolve serious violations can face enforcement action under the relevant laws and regulations.
