Price of life

Four people in the country lost their lives this Monday. These lives could have been saved if there was greater regard for safety in the country and respect for human life. Three members of a family died when a building collapsed in Malir in Karachi while construction work was being carried out at the three-storey complex. Meanwhile, in Lahore a woman riding the front seat of a metro bus was crushed to death when the vehicle collided with another one coming from the opposite direction at Kalma Chowk. At least 20 other persons were injured.These deaths could easily have been avoided. Had safety measures included in regulations been followed, both incidents might have been averted. These precautions would include better inspection of buildings, adherence to construction laws and for the metro bus more diligent training of drivers and possibly safeguards to warn them when another vehicle was approaching. Such mechanisms are in place in most other countries since they concern human life and the need to safeguard it. We have seen many such incidents before. As in the past, the late arrival of rescuers on the scene of the collapse in Karachi may have contributed to the casualties.We need a better service for rescue and the delivery of first aid across the country. But at the same time we also need to remember that no service can be effective if basic rules are ignored and authorities fail to carry out the checks expected of them. We have still not learnt to put human life above all else or accepted that the need to protect it must be placed all else. The safety measures in place at factories, workshops, mines and other places of work or residence are also inadequate. Hundreds of deaths and injuries occur each year as a result of a failure to uphold rules. The lack of capability to keep members of the public safe should be a concern for all tiers of government. They need to ensure that institutions and organisations working under them are equipped with the personnel and other means required to enforce the law and, thereby, prevent injuries that can be avoided. Better care following a mishap is also required. We are too callous when it comes to dealing with citizens and keeping them from harm. The rules and regulations which should be in place for public transport, buildings, and other places need to be reviewed; most of all, they need to be implemented and the required infrastructure for this established in all our cities and towns.

from The News International - Editorial https://ift.tt/2EyKvKS