In the wake of the recent Karachi tragedy, the Punjab government has stepped up fire safety measures, with Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz chairing an emergency meeting and approving the installation of international-standard external fire hydrants across the province.

According to an official notification issued by the Punjab Emergency Services Department, the government has decided to ensure the availability of external fire hydrants at more than 1,000 locations throughout Punjab.

The housing secretary has directed managing directors of all Water and Sanitation Agencies (WASA) to implement the plan, making WASA responsible for checking the availability of external hydrants every 400 feet.

Officials said the hydrants will be installed primarily in narrow markets and congested commercial areas, where access during fires and emergencies is often difficult. The facilities will be available for immediate use in case of fire or other emergencies.

Under the new directives, commercial plazas taller than 50 feet will be required to install external fire hydrants at their own cost. Failure to comply will result in legal action and registration of cases against plaza management, the notification warned.

The move is aimed at strengthening emergency response capacity and preventing large-scale losses during fire incidents across Punjab.