Authorities in Islamabad have served the Marriott Hotel with a notice over fire safety shortcomings, days after a hospital blaze killed 14 newborn babies and triggered a citywide crackdown on safety violations.
The notice was issued by the Capital Development Authority after an inspection of the hotel found deficiencies in its fire and life-safety arrangements under the relevant regulations for the federal capital.
The action comes less than a week after a fire tore through a nursery at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, where 14 newborns died on Aug. 26.
Following that tragedy, municipal authorities intensified inspections across Islamabad, sealing several high-rise buildings and imposing fines on hospitals that failed to meet fire and life-safety requirements.
The Sept. 1 notice to the Marriott was issued under the Islamabad Fire Prevention and Life Safety Regulations 2010.
According to the notice, deficiencies were observed in the hotel’s fire safety arrangements and system.
It said the hotel had violated Sections 3 and 4 of the regulations, which set out requirements for fire-safety arrangements.
The hotel has been directed to fix the deficiencies identified during the inspection and obtain a compliance certificate after completing the necessary corrective measures.
The notice also warned that failure to remove the deficiencies could lead to enforcement action, including sealing of the building.
The Islamabad Marriott is one of the capital’s best-known luxury hotels and regularly hosts foreign officials, diplomats, business executives and other high-profile guests.
The latest enforcement drive has highlighted long-standing gaps in fire preparedness in Islamabad, a rapidly growing city where authorities have acknowledged widespread non-compliance with building safety requirements.
In January, the CDA completed a fire-safety and hazard-control survey of 6,500 public and private buildings, including 300 government properties.
The survey found that most buildings had not obtained approval for fire safety plans and had not been issued completion or fire safety certificates.
Authorities later directed building owners and occupants to submit the required certification or face legal action, fines and other enforcement measures.
The survey followed a deadly gas-cylinder explosion in Islamabad and came amid growing concern over building safety after a major fire at a shopping complex in Karachi.
At the time, officials said emergency exits should be available in residential and commercial buildings to protect people from fire and electrical short circuits.
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