Islamabad, September 14, 2026: President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Sardar Tahir Mehmood has called for making fire safety, disaster prevention and emergency response a national priority, stressing that protecting human lives requires practical preparedness, professional training and strict compliance with safety standards.
Addressing a one-day Professional Rescue and Safety Workshop organised by ICCI in collaboration with Khidmat-e-Khalq-Muslim Rescue Mission, he said prevention deserved greater attention because once an accident occurred, there could be only moments to save lives.
He urged chambers of commerce and industry across Pakistan to organise similar professional fire-safety, rescue and emergency-response sessions for their members, saying chambers could play an important role in developing a culture of safety within the business community.
Sardar Tahir said such initiatives should become a regular feature of chamber activities across the country, adding that collective efforts could improve preparedness, reduce avoidable casualties and protect businesses and property.
He said a relatively small investment in fire extinguishers, alarms and other safety systems could prevent losses worth millions, while no amount of money could compensate for the loss of human life. He stressed that fire safety was not limited to equipment and that employees and occupants must also be trained to respond effectively during emergencies.
He called for a systematic review of fire and rescue arrangements in all institutions and stressed the need to “reset our systems” and give safety the priority it deserved.
Sardar Tahir said ICCI was leading by example, revealing that the Chamber had conducted a comprehensive fire-safety audit of its building and invested around Rs5 million in safety improvements and equipment.
He urged businesses and institutions to conduct regular safety audits, address identified gaps and train their staff in emergency response.
“If we want others to put their houses in order, we must first put our own house in order,” he remarked.
Chairman Khidmat-e-Khalq-Muslim Rescue Mission Chaudhry Shafiq ur Rehman Warrich said similar workshops were being organised at chambers of commerce and industry across the country. He said the organisation had set a target of establishing modern rescue centres in 25 districts, including Islamabad.
Motivational speaker Ehsan Ullah Mansoor said Islam advocated precaution alongside trust in Allah Almighty. He explained that true tawakkul required taking practical measures before placing one’s reliance on Allah.
Referring to the teachings of the Holy Prophet ﷺ regarding epidemic precautions and the principle of “tying the camel first and then trusting in Allah,” he said awareness, preparedness and safety training were fully consistent with Islamic teachings and essential for protecting human life.
ICCI Senior Vice President Tahir Ayub appreciated the initiative and emphasised the importance of strengthening awareness about prevention and emergency preparedness among the business community.
ICCI Senior Member Yasir Arafat Butt and Abrar Waheed of Khidmat-e-Khalq explained the core objectives of the workshop, while expert trainers delivered presentations and practical guidance on fire prevention, safety equipment, emergency response and rescue techniques.
Participants actively took part in the sessions and gained practical knowledge of dealing with emergency situations.
In his vote of thanks, ICCI Vice President Irfan Chaudhry reiterated the Chamber’s commitment to promoting a culture of prevention, preparedness and responsible emergency response, saying regular training and safety audits could play a vital role in protecting lives, businesses and property.
Those attending the session also included Executive Members Waseem Chaudhry and Zulqurnain Abbasi, former Senior Vice President Khalid Chaudhry and a large number of business community members.
