Dr Muhammad Imran Taj, a Karachi-based fire safety expert whose work in developing professional training and promoting a fire safety culture in Pakistan has earned him international recognition, has been honoured with a prestigious award at the UK’s House of Lords in acknowledgement of his professional achievements and contributions to fire protection.
The award was presented to Dr Taj by Lord Qurban Hussain at a special ceremony held in connection with the visit of a Made in Pakistan delegation to London. Dr Taj is visiting the UK as part of the delegation, which comprises prominent businessmen, top corporate executives and media persons from Pakistan. The visit has been organised by the Made in Pakistan Corporate Club and Pakistan Youth Parliament.
Holding a PhD in fire safety from Italy, Dr Taj is the president of the Fire Protection Industry of Pakistan (FPIP) and has established a specialised fire safety academy in Karachi to strengthen professional capabilities and promote a culture of prevention and emergency preparedness.
Established around a year ago, the academy operates a main training campus on the National Highway in Bin Qasim Town and a city campus in DHA. It has so far trained 50 personnel of the Directorate of Civil Defence from different parts of Sindh in collaboration with the Sindh Home Department.
The academy has also conducted training programmes for custodians and managers of high-rise and commercial buildings in DHA, focusing on emergency exits, evacuation procedures and the proper use of firefighting equipment.
Dr Taj, who is accredited by the UK’s Institution of Fire Engineers and the US-based National Fire Protection Association, has also extended the academy’s training activities to industrial establishments, hotels and educational institutions.
He has been advocating stronger collaboration between the academy, the Sindh government and Karachi’s civic authorities to improve fire safety standards through professional training, fire safety audits and greater awareness among building administrators, employees, teachers and students.
Highlighting the vulnerability of Karachi’s commercial and high-rise buildings to fire incidents, he has stressed that functional emergency exits, properly maintained firefighting equipment, alarm systems and regular evacuation drills are essential to preventing avoidable tragedies.
The recognition at the House of Lords marks an international acknowledgement of Dr Taj’s professional contributions and his efforts to strengthen Pakistan’s fire protection sector through specialised training and institutional capacity-building.
