Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Maryam Nawaz announced on Tuesday that the Punjab government will provide Rs10 million to the families of those who died in the recent Lahore hotel fire.
“Rs 10 million will be given to the families of those who lost their lives in the Lahore hotel fire,” CM Maryam said while chairing a session on fire incidents and building safety.
She said that the Lahore fire incident was controlled thanks to revised Standard Operating Procedures. “Despite most people being trapped in the basement near the fire, everyone was rescued just in the nick of time,” she added.
CM Maryam congratulated Rescue 1122 Director General and staff for risking their lives and noted the situation was monitored through Safe City cameras. She also acknowledged Energy Minister Faisal Khokhar and Safe City head Muhammad Ahsan Younis for immediately reaching the scene.
She urged all commissioners in Punjab to follow the new SOPs starting Tuesday and instructed Punjab Emergency Services Department Secretary Dr Rizwan Naseer to upgrade equipment and establish Rescue 1122’s inspectorate for regular inspections.
The chief minister emphasized operational fire hydrants and announced measures for all commercial and high-rise buildings, including monthly fire drills, installation of hydrants, alarms, extinguishers, emergency staircases, and removal of hazards. “DCs should lock prices for fire hydrants for the next 90 days to prevent price hikes,” she added.
The blaze broke out on January 24 in a 19-floor hotel spread over four kanals, with three basements, with Basement One reported to be the worst affected by the fire.
Authorities evacuated 180 people safely, but three lives were lost, including two hotel employees.