ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has announced plans to introduce modern firefighting techniques, including the use of drones, to enhance its response to fire incidents in high-rise buildings across the federal capital.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by CDA Chairman and Islamabad Chief Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa at the authority’s headquarters to review fire safety arrangements and emergency preparedness for tall and sensitive structures.
The meeting was attended by CDA Member Finance Tahir Naeem, Member Planning and Design Dr Khalid Hafiz, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Irfan Nawaz Memon, and the directors general of Building and Housing Control and Capital Emergency Services, along with other senior officials.
Officials informed the meeting that under the proposed plan, drones would be deployed to assist firefighting and rescue operations in high-rise buildings, particularly in situations where conventional access for emergency teams is limited. The initiative forms part of broader efforts to modernise Islamabad’s emergency response system.
Participants were also briefed that prior approval of fire safety plans from the CDA is mandatory before the construction of any new building, while fire safety certification in line with Pakistan Engineering Council codes is compulsory for all new public and private structures.
Chairman Randhawa directed that all high-rise buildings in Islamabad be surveyed and categorised, stressing the need to ensure fully functional fire safety systems and clearly marked emergency exits in every building. He further called for a robust mechanism to ensure strict compliance with fire safety regulations in older and sensitive buildings.
The CDA chairman also instructed Capital Emergency Services, in coordination with the district administration, to conduct regular emergency simulation drills in high-rise buildings and to immediately address human resource requirements to strengthen firefighting and rescue capabilities.
