Rescue authorities have completed a preliminary survey of high-rise buildings in Islamabad, uncovering widespread violations of fire safety standards across the federal capital, sources said.

According to officials, more than 5,000 tall buildings were reviewed during the initial assessment.

The survey found that fire safety arrangements were incomplete in a majority of structures, with serious deficiencies in basic equipment such as fire alarms, fire extinguishers and fire hose reels.

Islamabad has more than 500 high-rise buildings, defined as structures taller than 15 metres.

Sources said over 50 per cent of these buildings lack complete fire safety systems, with both public and private sector properties found in violation of building safety regulations.

The situation was reported to be satisfactory only in high-rise buildings located in the Blue Area. In contrast, several buildings in the Red Zone were found without complete fire safety equipment.

Fire alarms and other firefighting tools were also missing in blocks of the Federal Secretariat, sources said.

Conditions were described as particularly poor in high-rise buildings in Karachi Company, where fire safety arrangements were found to be negligible. Ineffective or incomplete safety measures were also reported in several buildings located in sectors F-11, F-10, G-13, G-14 and the Golra Mor area.

Officials said the Capital Development Authority’s Building Control Section is responsible for inspecting and ensuring compliance with fire safety requirements in high-rise buildings.