Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah handed over one snorkel and 10 fire tenders to local bodies on Friday and announced that more steps would also be taken to improve the fire brigade. While addressing a ceremony organised to hand over a 104-meter snorkel and 10 fire tenders to different local bodies of Sindh, Murad Ali Shah said that there was a dire need to equip all districts and taluka headquarters with fire tenders and such other equipment to improve firefighting capabilities of the fire brigade. “We had started this exercise during our last tenure and had ordered the purchase of one snorkel and 10 fire tenders for the local bodies of Karachi and others districts,” he said before announcing that he was pleased to hand over the keys of the fire tenders to the local bodies’ representative. CM Murad congratulated the Local Government minister Saeed Ghani and also lauded the efforts of former local government minister Jam Khan Shoro for inducting a snorkel and fire tenders in the fleet. Murad Ali Shah said that Karachi was one of the biggest and most beautiful cities of the world with lofty structures and multi-story buildings. He added that the metropolis was in need of a snorkel for high rise buildings. “The snorkel I am handing over to Karachi is one of the highest snorkels in the world,” he stated. It may be noted that the new snorkel has a 600-LPM fire pump capacity, a 1,000 LPM foam tank and a remote water monitor for firefighting from cage with a capacity of 3800 LPM. It has four hydraulically powered outriggers that provide strong stabilisation system to rescue at a maximum height with accuracy and stability. It has also 360-degree rotation with telescopic booms. The snorkel has been purchased for Rs 495 million (m). The CM directed Minister Saeed Ghani to visit each and every district and taluka headquarters and asses the requirement of firefighting machinery and equipment in order to prepare a scheme accordingly. “I’ll try to purchase maximum fire tenders and machinery during the current financial year. We will purchase whatever is left next year,” he announced. 10 fire tenders were handed over by CM to Sukkur, Hyderabad, Shaeed Benazirabad, Mirpurkhas, Larkana, Jacobabad and Qasimabad while three fire tenders were awarded to Karachi Mayor. Mayor Waseem Akhtar also received the key of snorkel from the CM. It is worth mentioning that each fire tender has been purchased for Rs19 m and the cost of 10 fire tenders sums up to Rs190 m. Each fire tender has a capacity of 8000 liter water tank and 500 liter foam tanks made of polypropylene sheet which have life time warranty against corrosion protection. It has normal and high pressure fire pumps and an automatic built-in priming system. The fire tender also has a spacious crew compartment for fire fighters equipped with all necessary tools. Published in Daily Times, October 13th 2018.