MULTAN: In the wake of horrific tragedies in Karachi and Lahore, citizens have expressed grave concern over the existence of more than 400 un-registered factories operating in residential areas of the city.
According to a survey launched jointly by different departments of Punjab government, there are over 400 industrial units, mostly in Insaar Colony, Chungi No-14 and older areas of city. Most of these units lack preventive arrangements to deal with emergency situation.
According to an official, district government is trying its best to shift the industrial units outside the city but 'political interference' is creating hurdle in shifting of the units. A large number of the units were housed in "three to four marla" buildings in thickly populated areas.
It's alarming that a large number of people converted their houses into factories which lack exit points for emergency. In some factories, cylinders of carbon dioxide are present for display only and the facility is lacking, said the official.
"These are utensil units, shoes factories, plastic makers, paint/chemicals factories, and other units wherein raw material was also prepared", explained the official.
When contacted Civil Defence officials informed that their department in collaboration with other departments of Punjab government was trying to shift such factories outside city limits.
Civil society workers Naeem Akhtar, Rashid Qureshi, Sunni Khan and others have urged the government to take notice of the situation and come up with urgent steps to avoid tragedies and losses.
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