ISLAMABAD: Prompted by the recent Gul Plaza inferno in Karachi, which claimed over 20 lives, city managers on Monday held a meeting to ensure proper fire and safety systems in all high-rise buildings of Islamabad.

They decided to conduct ground surveys of all high-rise buildings in the capital.

“Besides fire and safety systems, the CDA should also ensure that every building owner has a completion certificate, which covers fire safety, structural stability, and implementation of approved building plans,” said a CDA official.

He added that a majority of high-rise and apartment buildings in Islamabad have been operating without this certificate.

Completion certificate covers fire safety, structural stability, and implementation of approved building plans

The meeting, headed by CDA Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa, discussed “detailed arrangements for current fire safety measures, making protective measures more effective, and formulating a comprehensive strategy for private and public buildings,” according to a CDA statement.

The civic body chief directed that all high-rise private and public buildings in Islamabad be formally surveyed and categorised. “He emphasised that all necessary fire safety measures and emergency exit routes must be mandatory in high-rise buildings,” the statement added.

A participant of the meeting said that the Karachi Gul Plaza tragedy was discussed. “Although Islamabad does not face similar risks, as most buildings here have good fire safety arrangements and are constructed according to approved plans, we want to ensure safety and emergency exits in all high-rise buildings to avoid any mishap,” he said.

He added that special focus will be on buildings 15 meters and above, of which around 600 are located in Islamabad.

The meeting was attended by CDA Board Member Finance Tahir Naeem, Member Planning and Design Dr Khalid Hafiz, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Irfan Nawaz Memon, Director General of Building & Housing Control, Director General of Capital Emergency Services, and other senior officers.

During the briefing, officials said that approval of a building’s fire safety plan from the CDA is mandatory before constructing any new building. For new private and public buildings, fire certification according to Pakistan Engineering Council standards is compulsory. Drones will also be utilised in firefighting operations in high-rise buildings.

“Chairman CDA said a clear mechanism must be established to ensure full compliance of sensitive and older buildings with fire safety regulations. He stressed that the fire safety audit system should be strengthened and fully implemented,” the statement said.

The meeting also directed the Capital Emergency Services, in collaboration with the district administration, to arrange regular simulation exercises in high-rise buildings. The chairman instructed that human resource requirements of the Capital Emergency Services be fulfilled immediately.

Officials reviewed the activation of a modern emergency operation centre using digital technologies and the establishment of new rescue stations at key locations across the city.

It is relevant to note that a completion certificate (also known as an occupancy certificate) is mandatory for every building once construction is completed. However, in Islamabad, many high-rise and apartment buildings, particularly in sector E-11, operate without this certificate.

“Building owners often avoid obtaining completion certificates due to additional construction,” said an official. He added that besides fire audits, CDA management will ensure every building has a completion certificate to guarantee the safety of all occupants.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2026