Islamabad’s fire fighting vehicles are set for a major upgrade as China prepares to provide 21 modern fire and rescue vehicles to the capital.
According to media reports, most vehicles currently used by Islamabad’s fire brigade are nearly two decades old. The last major purchase for the CDA Fire Department was made in 2006.
The new vehicles will be provided under a Pakistan-China agreement signed in 2024. The equipment is worth 72.31 million Chinese yuan, estimated at around Rs3 billion.
The package will also include a modern snorkel fire tender for emergencies in high-rise buildings.
The new vehicle can reach heights of around 88 metres during rescue operations. Existing fire tenders in Islamabad can reach about 68 metres.
The upgrade will therefore increase the capital’s firefighting and rescue reach by around 20 metres.
According to sources, the new vehicles are expected to arrive in Pakistan in September.
The modern equipment is expected to improve the capital’s ability to deal with emergencies, particularly in high-rise buildings.
The fire fighting capabilities of CDA were questioned when 14 new born babies died in a tragic fire in the PIMS nursery ward on August 26
