The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday directed the Punjab government to submit a detailed report by April 1 on measures being taken to determine responsibility for frequent fire incidents in buildings and steps planned to improve fire safety standards.

The hearing was conducted by Chief Justice Aalia Neelum on a petition seeking concrete measures to prevent fire incidents in buildings across the city.

During the proceedings, the chief justice observed that fire incidents in buildings occur frequently and questioned what arrangements were being made in newly constructed structures to ensure adequate fire safety measures.

She also asked the authorities how they were monitoring compliance with fire safety standards in buildings currently under construction. Repeated fire incidents in the city are largely due to the failure to implement the building code and fire safety laws effectively.

The petitioner further argued that the absence of an emergency helicopter service has contributed to casualties during major fire incidents, as rescue operations in high-rise buildings often face significant challenges.

The petition also pointed out deficiencies in emergency response services, stating that about 83% of ambulances operated by Rescue 1122 have exceeded their recommended service life.