Sindh has approved a Rs. 30.8 billion plan to modernize emergency services, expand fire and rescue capacity, and create a unified response system.
Sindh Moves to Build a Unified Emergency Response System
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has approved a Rs. 30.8 billion plan to reorganize and modernize emergency services across the province. The main objective is to create an integrated and more efficient response system under a unified command structure so different emergency functions can work together more effectively.
The decision was taken during a high-level meeting attended by several senior officials, including Murtaza Wahab, Asif Hyder Shah, Muzamel Halepoto, and Salman Shah. The scale of the plan shows that the Sindh government is treating emergency response reform as a major institutional priority rather than a limited administrative adjustment.
This matters because emergency systems work best when command, equipment, training, and field response are connected. When services operate in fragments, delays and confusion can increase during fires, rescues, disasters, and public emergencies. A unified structure is meant to reduce those weaknesses and improve operational readiness across Sindh.
Major Funding Approved for Modern Equipment and New Facilities
A large portion of the approved plan will go toward new rescue equipment, specialized vehicles, and expanded field infrastructure. Under the scheme, authorities will procure 100 fire trucks along with snorkels, aerial ladders, drones, fire bikes, and all-terrain vehicles to strengthen response capacity in different settings.
The government has also approved the purchase of advanced rescue tools such as thermal imaging cameras, breathing apparatus, and life-detection systems. These are important additions because modern emergency work depends not only on manpower, but also on the ability to locate victims quickly, enter dangerous environments safely, and respond in a more professional manner.
The plan also includes investment in new fire stations and the creation of a Rescue 1122 academy. That academy could become a key institutional step because better equipment alone is not enough unless personnel are trained properly to use it under real emergency conditions.
Province-Wide Fire Safety Audit Shows Progress but Also Risk
Officials informed the meeting that a province-wide fire safety audit had already been carried out by 122 teams. By April 1, these teams had inspected 3,340 buildings, which exceeded the initial target of 2,368. This suggests that the government has already begun pushing enforcement and assessment work more aggressively.
The audit also showed some improvement in compliance. According to the briefing, 1,328 buildings, or 43 percent, are now considered substantially compliant. At the same time, the share of high-risk structures dropped from 33 percent in February to 22 percent. That indicates progress, but it also shows that a significant risk base still remains.
Authorities have sealed several dangerous buildings and issued more than 3,000 notices to enforce fire safety rules. These steps show that modernization is not being treated as an equipment-only plan. It is also linked to inspections, legal compliance, and preventive enforcement across Sindh.
A New Emergency Authority and Legal Framework May Follow
A high-level committee has recommended creating a unified and autonomous emergency services authority in Sindh. Under the proposal, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority Sindh and Rescue 1122 would function as major wings of the new body, while local government fire services, civil defense functions excluding wartime roles, emergency health services, and compensation mechanisms would also be brought under the same administrative umbrella.
Chief Minister Shah endorsed the recommendations in principle and directed officials to prepare a full legal framework to formalize the new structure. He also approved the formation of a five-member committee headed by the Advocate General of Sindh to draft the required legislation.
The direction of policy is now clear. Sindh is trying to move from a scattered emergency model toward a modern, coordinated system with stronger institutions, trained personnel, better equipment, and more consistent enforcement. If implemented effectively, the plan could significantly improve the province’s ability to protect lives and property in the years ahead.
