Hyderabad (HRNW) Muhammad Saleem Memon, President Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders & Small Industry (HCSTSI), has expressed deep concern over the current state of fire safety and emergency response systems in the city. He highlighted that with Hyderabad’s rapidly growing population of approximately 4 million, the resources of the Fire Brigade remain critically insufficient. According to international standards, at least 40 trained firefighters per 100,000 population are required, implying that Hyderabad needs approximately 1,600 trained firefighters and 40 fully operational fire stations immediately, each equipped with modern tools, trained personnel, and rapid response capacity.
He emphasized that modern firefighting no longer relies solely on water, but incorporates chemical firefighting, advanced detection systems, smart alarms, drones, and monitoring technologies. He urged the Sindh government to encourage not only the public sector but also private enterprises to adopt these modern fire safety systems by providing appropriate policies and facilitation.
President Memon pointed out that during fire incidents, fire tenders in many areas are unable to access water from nearby hydrants, especially in development authority and cantonment areas. He recommended that all civic agencies, development authorities, and cantonment boards be legally required to maintain fully functional hydrants at all times, ensure alternative water supply during power outages, and provide uninterrupted access to water for the Fire Brigade and Rescue 1122 during emergencies.
He also noted that following the 26th constitutional amendment, local authorities have broader powers and responsibilities. Therefore, each development authority and cantonment area should establish its own fire brigade units within their jurisdictions and operate in close coordination with municipal authorities to ensure timely and effective emergency services for residents.
President Memon expressed concern over the government’s proposal to merge the Fire Brigade Department with Rescue 1122, stating that fire services should remain under the District Local Government, while Rescue 1122 should function under the Disaster Management Department. He emphasized that the core responsibility of the Fire Brigade must remain focused on firefighting and emergency response to maintain operational specialization and efficiency.
He further demanded that the Fire Brigade be upgraded with modern vehicles and equipment, receive specialized training in chemical and industrial firefighting, high-rise rescue operations, and hazardous material response, and establish additional fire stations in densely populated, commercial, and industrial areas. He also stressed that priority in recruitment should be given to local residents, as their knowledge of local roads and infrastructure significantly improves response times and service efficiency.
President Memon highlighted that the Hyderabad Fire Brigade continues to handle fires across residential, commercial, industrial, rural, and forested areas, as well as garbage dump fires and emergency responses. However, the city’s hydrant system is critically compromised, with several key points closed or non-functional, including: Mana Dori Filter Plant near HDA Building (closed), Jamshoro Filter Plant (non-functional during power outages), HDA Water Supply Unit No. 06 (water available only during supply hours), HDA Phuleli Water Supply Channel near Mori Phatak (closed), Chang Goth HDA Hydrant (water supplied only with prior approval), and HDA Building Station Road near Mola Ali Qadamgah (hydrant removed). He urged the Sindh government to restore, repair, and modernize all hydrants to ensure uninterrupted water supply to the Fire Brigade during emergencies.
Finally, Muhammad Saleem Memon called upon the Chief Minister of Sindh and the Chief Secretary to give urgent attention to this critical issue and establish a modern, world-class fire safety and emergency response system across the province to safeguard lives, protect property, and ensure that business activities continue in a secure environment.
