KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Friday handed over one snorkel and ten fire fighters to local bodies, saying he was working hard to improve firefighting capabilities of fire brigades and more would also be given.
The chief minister, while addressing a handing over ceremony also attended by Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhtar, said that there was a dire need to equip all district and taluka headquarters with fire tenders and such other equipment to improve firefighting capabilities of the fire brigade.
He said the provincial government had ordered purchase of one snorkel and ten fire tenders for the local bodies of Karachi and others districts during their last tenure, and expressed immense satisfaction on handing over the keys of the fire tenders to the representatives of local bodies.
He said that Karachi was one of the biggest cities of the world with lofty structures and multi-story buildings, and was in need of a snorkel for firefighting at high rise buildings.
The snorkel handed over to Mayor Karachi is one the highest snorkel in the world with 104 meters height for rescuing at high rise buildings and has been purchased at cost of Rs495 million.
The snorkel has 600-LPM fire pump capacity, a 1,000 LPM foam tank, remote water monitor for firefighting having capacity of 3800 LPM. It has four hydraulic powered outriggers that provide strong stabilisation system to rescue at maximum height with accuracy and stability, and has also 360-degree rotation with telescopic booms.
CM Sindh directed Minister Local Government Saeed Ghani and access the firefighting machinery and equipment requirement for every district headquarter and prepare a scheme accordingly. He vowed that maximum numbers of fire tenders would be provides during the current financial year.
He also handed one fire tender each to representatives of local bodies of Sukkur, Hyderabad, Shaheed Benazirabad, Mirpurkhas, Larkana, Jacobabad and Qasimabad area of Hyderabad, and three fire tenders to Karachi.
Mayor Karachi received the keys of the snorkel and three fire tenders. Each fire tender has been purchased for Rs19 million each and the cost of ten fire tenders comes to Rs190 million.
Each fire tender has the capacity of 8000 litres water tank and 500 litres foam tank tanks made of polypropylene sheet having life time warranty against corrosion protection. It has normal and high pressure fire pump and an automatic builtin priming System.
The fire tender has also a spacious crew compartment for fire fighters equipped with all necessary tools. They are specially designed automatic flywheel and fully equipped with all accessories and firefighting equipment.
