Addressing a special meeting held in relation to requirements of fire brigades, the Nazim said that as an immediate measure, city government has invited tenders for purchase of 26 fire tenders, immediate repair of 24 fire tenders and 21 road washing machines costing Rs 230 million to be spent from its own resources. The Nazim told the meeting that Karachi's population is fast growing and number of fire brigades and other facilities does not match the growth rate.
The city government, during the last 4 years, purchased two new snorkles and added more fire tenders which number is still less than the population ratio and, therefore, there is need to increase their number immediate and new snorkles, fire tenders and other necessary equipment be purchased as population ratio so that the city government remains fully equipped to meet any eventuality.
Mustafa Kamal said that when Haq Parasts took over the city government, it has only two fumigation machines and we procured spray machines and vehicles worth over Rs 450 million and which were parked at old KMC building and burnt on Ashura day. Now the city government does not have the resources to purchase new spray machines and vehicles.
He said Rs 2 billion would be required for the purchase of these machines and vehicles besides fire tenders which city government cannot arrange from its resources. He said that out of Rs 330 million, the City Government will spend Rs 182 million on purchase of 26 fire tenders and Rs 147 million on procuring 21 modern road washing machines while approval has been given for expenses to be made on immediate repair of 24 fire tenders.