Body formed for DNA lab, provision of two snorkels, 20 fire tenders for Karachi

KARACHI: Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on Saturday formed a committee to look into the financial aspects of setting up a DNA lab in Karachi and the provision of two snorkels and 20 fire tenders to the metropolis to control the recent Baldia Town garment factory-like tragedies in future and address the anxiety of relatives who feel difficulty in identifying their near and dear ones, it was learnt by The News.

The premier made this decision in a high-level meeting at the Governor’s House. Ashraf arrived here after visiting China and took an aerial view of the garment factory in Baldia where a devastating fire claimed the lives of over 250 labourers. Informed sources told The News that the prime minister chaired two separate meetings at the Governor’s House attended by Governor Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad, Chief Minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah, Interior Minister Rehman Malik and others. In another meeting attended by the governor, the chief minister and chief secretary Sindh Raja Muhammad Abbas, the prime minister was briefed about the factory tragedy in Karachi and destruction caused by heavy rains in several districts of Sindh province.

The prime minister announced Rs 400,000 compensation for the legal heirs of each victim of the factory fire and floods, respectively. He also announced Rs 100,000 for the wounded.

The sources said that the governor Sindh requested the prime minister to establish a DNA test lab in Karachi as usually it took time to get DNA tests from Islamabad or Lahore, which cause immense sufferings for the relatives. Dr. Ishrat also proposed for provision of two snorkels and 20 fire tenders for the city to tackle growing incidents of fire. The premier formed a committee led by Federal Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh to look into the provision of funds for the said facilities in the country’s economic hub.

The sources said that Raja Pervaiz Ashraf was also briefed about the causes of the factory inferno in the city.

The interim report about the incident was prepared by the police investigating team led by DIG CID Manzoor Mughal.

SSP Niaz Khoso, one of the members of the police probe team told The News that their interim report mainly focused on three things. First, the fire was the result of a short circuit. Secondly, the electricity in the garment factory went off after 30 seconds of the fire. Third, the police report highlighted that the doors of the factory were closed.

Niaz Khoso said that the doors of the factory were locked after the fire incident ostensibly so that the people could not take away the clothes and other goods but as a result of the locking of the doors, the labourers could not escape the building, which claimed more lives.

Sunday 16 September 2012

http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-13-17505-Body-formed-for-DNA-lab-provision-of-two-snorkels-20-fire-tenders-for-Karachi