Administration orders 90-day probe into factories as teams probe Malikpur blast
FAISALABAD:
The divisional administration has ordered a comprehensive inspection of all industrial units and factories in Faisalabad division to assess the condition and capacity of boilers and pressure vessels, following last week’s deadly factory explosion in Malikpur area.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Commissioner Raja Jahangir Anwar, which was attended by officials from the ministries of industry, labor, civil protection and environment, as well as representatives of private inspection companies.
Four private companies were given 90 days to carry out inspections, including geotagging each industrial unit and checking the availability of mandatory no-objection certificates (NOCs).
The commissioner noted that the division houses more than 1,200 boilers and more than 6,000 pressure vessels, many of which may be obsolete or operating without proper certification. He warned that outdated or unmaintained equipment poses a serious risk of explosion and potential loss of life.
An enforcement committee was formed to ensure compliance with the rules.
Industrial units that violate safety standards or do not have valid NOCs will be sealed without exception.
The Faisalabad Industrial Area Development and Management Corporation (FIEDMC) has been directed to inspect all units under its jurisdiction and submit a detailed report within 30 days, with “zero tolerance” for negligence.
The intensified security measures follow the catastrophic steamboat explosion at a glue factory in Malikpur last Friday, which killed 21 people, including seven members of a family, and injured at least seven others.
The explosion destroyed four industrial units and nine houses nearby.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has sought an urgent report on the incident. Subsequently, Commissioner Anwar formed a five-member inquiry committee, while Deputy Commissioner Capt.
Nadeem Nasir set up a separate ten-member committee to identify those responsible.
