KARACHI: Under the directives of President Asif Ali Zardari, a multi-billion-rupee project has been launched to overhaul Karachi’s firefighting services.
In this connection, an international bidding process for procuring modern firefighting machinery is already underway and expected to be finalized soon.
This was stated by the Mayor of Karachi, MurtazaWahab, here on Friday while inaugurating the rehabilitated fire stations at Gulistan-e-Johar and Bolton Market, which will strengthen the city’s emergency response and firefighting capacity.
The initiative is a part of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s broader strategy to modernise rescue and firefighting infrastructure to ensure quicker and more effective emergency services for citizens.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony, the mayor said the restoration of these facilities represented a major milestone in enhancing Karachi’s emergency preparedness.
He said that the Gulistan-e-Johar Fire Station had been revived after nearly three decades, transforming an abandoned structure into a fully operational emergency response centre that would serve Gulistan-e-Johar and its adjoining areas.
Murtaza Wahab noted that fire incidents in the city in the past had underscored the urgent need for improved infrastructure, modern equipment, and better preparedness.
“We are learning from past experiences and taking practical steps to ensure our firefighting systems are capable of handling future challenges,” he said.
The rehabilitation of fire stations is a part of a larger modernization programme under which existing facilities are being upgraded and equipped with advanced firefighting tools. The initiative is being carried out with the support of the Sindh government.
According to officials, the upgraded fire stations would feature improved operational infrastructure, solar-powered systems, and high-capacity water storage facilities to ensure uninterrupted emergency response.
The mayor explained that prior to the restoration of the Johar facility, the Gulshan Fire Station had been handling emergencies in both Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Gulistan-e-Johar, placing considerable strain on resources.
With the new station now functional, responsibilities would be shared, significantly reducing response times.
Reaffirming the commitment of the Pakistan Peoples Party-led provincial government, the mayor said efforts were underway to improve civic infrastructure across all sectors.
“Our focus is on delivering tangible improvements through modern infrastructure and better municipal services to ensure a safer and more efficient Karachi,” he added.
The ceremony was attended by Municipal Commissioner Abrar Jaffar, Director General (Technical Services) Tariq Mughal, Chief Fire Officer and other senior KMC officials.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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