Minister meets IAF team: ‘Fire safety, emergency rescue training essential for protection of human lives’

KARACHI: Sindh Minister for Labor, Manpower and Social Security Saeed Ghani has emphasised on fire safety and emergency rescue training to save human life.

“At this time, fire safety and emergency rescue training is essential for the protection of human lives,” he asserted, adding that the initiative of surveying factories across the province under the International Accord Foundation is commendable and we want it expand its scope to shopping plazas, malls, big residential projects and government buildings.

The Labour minister expressed these views during a meeting with a delegation of the International Accord Foundation (IAF) on Monday, in his office.

Led by IAF Executive Director George Oldenzel, the delegation included Member Standing Committee IAF and Vice President Cooperative Responsibility American Eagle Outfitters, Michael Terry, Chief Complaint Officer IAF, Kristen Margaret Drew.

While Chief Executive Officer and Country Director Pakistan Accord Zulfiqar Shah and others were also present.In the meeting, the delegation informed the provincial minister about the efforts made so far under IAF in Pakistan and the efforts made in other industries including the garment industry across the country, especially in Sindh, regarding fire safety, rescue and other safety related issues.

The delegation Head Joris Oldenzel told the minister that agreements have been signed with 144 different brands across the province under the foundation and so far, more than 330 factories have been surveyed under this agreement in Karachi alone and training will be provided there regarding fire safety, rescue and life saving. Most of the factories surveyed are textile and garment factories.

Saeed Ghani, appreciated IAF’s efforts and stressed on expanding this initiative further.

He said that we want the IAF to survey factories as well as shopping plazas, malls and government and residential buildings across the province.

The minister said that at this time, fire safety and emergency rescue training is essential for the protection of human lives.

The minister was assured that at present all the members of the delegation are present in Karachi and will make every effort to further expand the scope in this regard.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026