ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Prof Ahsan Iqbal on Saturday visited the ‘Sasta’ Bazaar, Sector H-9 near Peshawar Morr after a fire damaged stalls and shops there. Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Mayor Shaikh Anser Aziz also accompanied Ahsan Iqbal. The shopkeepers affected by the incident informed the minister about the losses suffered by them in the fire that had started early on Wednesday morning. Talking to reporters, the interior minister assured the affected shopkeepers of the government’s full support in helping them reestablish their businesses. He said that around 600 people were affected in the incident, adding that a damage assessment committee had been constituted, which would prepare its report within two days for onward submission to the PM for compensation. He said that a rescue operation had been started promptly because of CCTV cameras installed under the Safe City Project and other safety measures adopted by the district administration. “Otherwise, the scale of the losses would have been greater,” he said. The minister said that the blaze was controlled within two hours. “It could have been put out in the initial stage had the shopkeepers followed the prescribed safety measures and installed fire extinguishers,” he said. He directed the CDA to review fire safety measures at all business centers and high-rise shopping malls. “The authority should ensure that all shopping plazas follow the required safety measures. The city fire-brigade department should be made more efficient,” he said. Ahsan Iqbal said that all commercial sites should be fully equipped with fire extinguishers to meet any emergency. Mayor Shaikh Anser Aziz said that rescue teams had reached the incident site within nine minutes after receiving the emergency call, and extinguished the fire in two hours. He said that intensity of fire was great because plastic material and cloth had caught fire. To a question, the interior minister said that a joint investigation had been conducted into the Dawn Leaks issue and taken to its logical end. “Now it is a thing of the past and a closed transaction,” he added. He said Pakistan needed greater unity and a strong message should be sent to the world that “We are the one nation” and those who want to destabilise us will fail,” he said. To a question about the prevailing situation in Afghanistan and other Muslim countries, the minister said that he himself had pointed out the conspiracies being hatched in the countries surrounding Pakistan. “Pakistan is moving towards progress and development, but the national economy has suffered losses of around $14 billion during the last three to four months due to the political situation created by some political figures,” he said. He said conspiracies and progress could not move together in any country, adding that the government wanted to see stability and permanent peace in the country. Ahsan Iqbal said the Interior Ministry would continue to play an effective role under the National Action Plan (NAP) for national peace and stability. Commenting on the recent statement of the US president, the minister said that the political and military leadership had examined all aspects of the statement and rejected assertions that billions of dollars had been paid to Pakistan over the years on account of eliminating terrorism. “The fight against terrorism is in Pakistan’s own interests. It is not to please anyone else. We want lasting peace in the region,” he said. “Pakistan is a distinguished country among the comity of the nations. It will continue its efforts for regional peace in collaboration with friendly countries,” he said. Responding to another question, Ahsan Iqbal said that the ministry would make Islamabad Police a role model for the other provinces. Published in Daily Times, August 27th 2017.