KARACHI - The absence of a working wireless communication system for firefighters and scarcity of fire tenders at the City Fire Department are the main hurdles in carrying out swift and result-oriented fire fighting operations in Karachi. The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation has failed to induct necessary equipment required for emergency operations.

It is reliably learnt that the wireless system introduced in the city fire department has not been operated for the last six years and the management has failed to repair it owing to shortage of funds.
Sources said the wireless system was installed in 2006 mainly to improve working during emergency operations. However, due to its high frequency detected by some security institutions it was soon removed.
A senior official at the fire department, requesting anonymity, told PPI that firefighters face immense problems due to lack of wireless communication system. He said the fire department work to serve public and the absence of necessary gadgets leads to serious problems during emergency situations.
He told that currently 42 fire tenders were operational, while eight others were out-of-order for many months. He said the high-ups of the department had said the wireless communication system would soon be installed and the required funds were about to be released.
Besides unavailability of such important equipment, two out of 21 fire stations have also been closed in the City.
Sources added that Baldia Town and Mauripur fire stations were closed while the fire station in Cattle Colony, Landhi was working for only 12 hours a day due to shortage of manpower.
“There are now 19 fire stations in the City, including the emergency response centre at Hawksbay, 42 fire engines, and three snorkels and same number of are currently in working condition,” the official said.
PROMOTE EDUCATION: Senior Sindh Minister for Education Pir Mazharul Haq has said the Pakistan Peoples Party is taking effective measures for the promotion of education in the country.
He was speaking at a memorial programme organised by Pir Elahi Bakhsh Foundation in connection with the 37th death anniversary of Pir Elahi Bakhsh in the Sindh Assembly Building here the other day. The programme was presided over by MPA Najamuddin Abro. 
On the occasion, position-holders from educational boards across Sindh were given prizes. Provincial Law Minister Ayaz Soomro, Provincial Finance Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Minister for Minorities Affairs Dr Mohan Lal, senior officials, among others, were present.  Mazhar said Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had given priority to education in party’s manifesto, therefore, steps are being taken at the government level to promote literacy, which was also the mission of Pir Elahi Bakhsh.
He said Pir Elahi Bakhsh’s hard work, dedication and love for education gave him the honour of opening the first college in the province.
The education minister announced that Pir Elahi Bakhsh Foundation will provide Rs 500,000 to the University of Karachi to give gold medals to first position holders.
Speaking on the occasion, PPP Sindh’s Secretary General Taj Haider said Pir Elahi Bakhsh made sustained efforts for the promotion of education in Sindh. He advised youths to study the life of Pir Elahi Bakhsh to know about his struggle for the promotion of education. Dr Mohan Lal, Ustad Parwana Bhatti, Murad Ali Nizamani, Dr Abdul Wahab, and senior journalist Saeed Khawar also spoke. Later, the students from across the province who got first, second and third positions in examinations were distributed prizes.