The Sindh government has decided to carry out fire safety audits at school buildings across the province. The information gathered during the inspections will be uploaded to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) website.
According to a government notification, the School Education Department has appointed Deputy Secretary Ashraf Hussain Ansari as the focal person. He will coordinate all matters related to the fire safety audits.
The decision comes as the provincial government continues to improve fire safety measures at educational institutions.
Earlier in August, the Sindh Directorate of Inspection and Registration of Private Institutions instructed all privately managed schools to ensure their fire prevention and safety systems work properly at all times.
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Schools were directed to install and regularly check fire alarms, smoke detectors and appropriate fire extinguishers on every floor and in other important areas. They were also told to keep emergency exits, staircases and evacuation routes unlocked, clearly marked, well lit and free of any obstacles.
The instructions also called for regular checks of electrical wiring, switchboards, laboratories, kitchens, generator rooms and other areas that could pose a fire risk.
Schools were further directed to display updated evacuation plans and emergency instructions. They were required to conduct at least three fire evacuation drills during each academic year and keep proper records of these exercises.
In addition, teaching and non-teaching staff were asked to receive training on handling fire emergencies, evacuation procedures and basic first aid.