Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab inaugurated newly established fire stations at Gulistan-e-Johar and Bolton Market, marking a significant step in strengthening the city's emergency response and firefighting capacity. The initiative is part of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation's broader strategy to modernize rescue and firefighting infrastructure, aiming for faster and more effective emergency services.
Restoration of Gulistan-e-Johar Fire Station
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Wahab stated that the Gulistan-e-Johar Fire Station has been restored after nearly three decades, transforming an abandoned facility into a fully functional emergency response center serving Gulistan-e-Johar and surrounding localities. He noted that Karachi has witnessed several devastating fire incidents, highlighting the need for stronger infrastructure, modern equipment, and better preparedness. "We have learned from the past and are taking practical measures to ensure that our firefighting and emergency response systems are capable of meeting future challenges," he said.
Modern Equipment and Infrastructure Upgrades
Wahab emphasized that the rehabilitation of fire stations is part of a larger modernization program. Alongside restoring existing facilities, KMC is upgrading fire station infrastructure and procuring state-of-the-art firefighting equipment with support from the Sindh government. The upgraded fire stations will include high-capacity water storage tanks holding hundreds of thousands of gallons, solar-powered systems, and improved operational infrastructure for uninterrupted emergency services.
Reduced Response Times
Before the rehabilitation, the Gulshan Fire Station had been responding to emergencies in both Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Gulistan-e-Johar, placing considerable pressure on resources. With the restoration of the Johar station, emergency response responsibilities will now be shared, significantly reducing response times and enhancing the city's ability to deal with fires and other emergencies more efficiently, according to the mayor.
Attendance and Future Plans
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Municipal Commissioner KMC Abrar Jaffar, Director General Technical Services Tariq Mughal, the Chief Fire Officer, senior KMC officials, and other dignitaries. The new fire stations are expected to improve emergency coverage in densely populated areas of Karachi.
