ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain formally launched Building Codes of Pakistan-Fire Safety Provisions 2016 at a ceremony held at the President’s House on Monday. In a first, life and fire safety provisions have been made part of the existing building codes. The addition of new provisions to the existing building codes is likely to reduce fire-related risks to human lives and properties. According to a statement, formulation of these fire safety codes is a significant achievement and an important milestone in the history of the country’s efforts towards achieving the objective of ‘Disaster Resilient’ Pakistan. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) took the leading role for the inclusion of fire and life safety provisions in the building codes of Pakistan. For the purpose, the NDMA in October 2015 entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Pakistan Engineering Council for preparation of holistic life and fire safety provisions. Funding for the development of these provisions was also arranged by the NDMA. The life and fire safety provisions have been approved by the PEC Governing Board and vetted by the Ministry of Law and Justice. Formulated in 1986 and later modified in 2007, the building codes were lacking life, fire safety provisions. All buildings in the public and private sector thus were devoid of structure fire prevention, but the shortcoming would be addressed with the introduction of the first-ever fire and life safety provisions. Minister for Science and Technology Rana Tanvir Hussain, NDMA Chairman Major General Asghar Nawaz, PEC Chairman Jawed Salim Qureshi also addressed the ceremony. The NDMA and the PEC Chairmen presented the Fire Safety Provisions 2016, Code Book to the president. Later, the president presented certificates of recognition to the member of the High-Level Task Force constituted by the PEC for formulation of the fire safety provisions.