ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Nation Assembly was told on Wednesday that a total of 780 Stalls were totally burnt at Sunday Bazaar located at Peshawar Mor in Islamabad as a result of three fire incidents in 2022 and 2024.
Replying to a question, the Minister for Interior Syed Mohsin Naqvi apprised the House that three times fire incident happened at H-9 Bazaar in last three years and damage the stalls, resulted in heavy financial loss to government assets and stallholders.
The minister said that a fire incident occurred on 10 July 2024 at 11:15 am in weekly Bazaar H-9 as a result 625 stalls were totally burnt.
It was told that due to said incident the financial loss reached up to Rs 28 crores approximately, as per stall holders’ statements.
The detail of damage is as under:
Fire Incident | Block | Total Burnt Stalls |
| 30 April 2022 | D | 22 |
| 07 December 2022 | E & F | 133 |
| 10 July 2024 | A, B, C & H | 625 |
The interior minister told that an Inquiry was held under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner Islamabad and accordingly report was submitted to the Prime Minister Office.
As per report findings, the prime minister directed that the CDA/MCI shall develop a Fire Safety Plan and a comprehensive fire safety audit of all Mercantile Bazaars in ICT shall be conducted on the first week of every month in the light of Islamabad Fire Prevention and Life Safety Regulations 2010 and international best practice. The audit must cover all aspects of fire safety.
The CDA/MCI shall initiate a comprehensive capacity building program for fire-fighting personnel to enhance their knowledge and skills in fire prevention, detention, and response.
The CDA/MCI shall procure necessary fire safety equipment’s and ensure its proper maintenance and availability.
The House was informed that the CDA/MCI has established a fire and safety committee composed of expert fire safety officers to prevent such incidents and weekly Bazaar management are adopting effective measures to save such incidents in future.
The affected stall-holders have requested for re-construction of burnt stalls on self-Finance basis. The file has been approved by the competent authority and reconstruction is in progress, the minister also told.
