What to Do in a House Fire in Pakistan: NDMA's Rules and the 1122 Call

Short answer: NDMA's Urban Fire Safety Guidelines say to call 1122, use the stairs and not the lift, crawl low under smoke, and never go back inside once you are out. Feel a door before you open it. If it is hot, use another exit.

Winter brings more heaters, geysers and extension boards, and house fires become more common. A fire gives you only minutes. What you decide before it starts matters more than what you do in the middle of it.

We read the NDMA Urban Fire Safety Guidelines, dated 16 March 2026 on ndma.gov.pk, on 14 October 2026. This guide puts the advice in the order you need it: before, during and after a fire.

Before a fire, two exits and a ready bag matter most

NDMA says to find two escape routes from every room, practise leaving with your eyes closed, keep doorways clear and test that windows open. Keep a small kit near the main exit with a flashlight, mask, whistle, water and important documents.

These are small jobs. A window that is painted shut or a blocked corridor can turn a small fire into a deadly one. Check them this week.

Daily habits that stop fires from starting

The guideline tells you to switch off appliances you are not using, avoid overloaded sockets, keep flammable things away from heat, and keep a fire extinguisher near the stove. It also says to sleep with the bedroom door closed to block smoke.

Heaters and geysers are the common winter risks. Our guide on using a gas heater or geyser safely covers them in detail. After any short circuit, see how to test and rewire your house.

NDMA adds that you must know how to use the extinguisher. Ask the shop to show you when you buy it.

Run a short drill at home. Tell every child where the two exits are and where to meet outside. Do it once now and again each winter. A child who has practised will move on instinct, while one who has not may hide or freeze. Make sure older relatives know the plan too, and decide who will help them out.

Keep the meeting place away from the house, such as a neighbour's gate across the street. Count heads there, and tell the fire crew if anyone is missing instead of going back in to look.

During a fire, get out low, get out fast and call 1122

NDMA's steps are to use the stairs and not lifts, crawl low under smoke, feel a door and use another exit if it is hot, open doors slowly, and call 1122. Once you are out, do not go back inside for anything.

1. Alert everyone and leave at once.
2. Crawl low where there is smoke.
3. Feel each door. If it is hot, use your second exit.
4. Open doors slowly.
5. Use the stairs, never the lift.
6. Call 1122 from a safe place outside.
7. Do not go back in.

If you are trapped, the guideline says to seal the room and signal for help. If your clothes catch fire, stop, drop and roll. These two rules save lives when the first plan fails.

After a fire, get checked and wait for clearance

NDMA says to get medical attention for burns, ask the fire department to confirm the building is safe before you go in, record your losses with receipts, and contact your local District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) for relief services.

Documenting losses helps with any claim. NDMA also suggests photos and video of your property in advance, which makes this easier. Authorities are already checking fire safety in some places. See our report on 92 Islamabad premises sealed for fire safety.

Common questions

What number do I call for a fire in Pakistan?

NDMA's guideline says to call 1122 in a fire emergency. Make the call from a safe place outside, after you have left the building. Keep the number saved on every phone in the house.

Why should I not use the lift in a fire?

NDMA tells people to use the stairs, not elevators, in a fire. We read the instruction but not the reason on the sheet. Power can fail and a lift can stop between floors, so the stairs are the safer choice.

What if the door is hot?

Do not open it. NDMA says to feel the door and, if it is hot, use another exit. This is why it asks you to find two escape routes from each room beforehand.

What should be in a home fire emergency kit?

NDMA names a flashlight, mask, whistle, water and important documents, kept near the main exit. Add nothing that slows you down, because you must be able to grab it and go.

Can I go back in for my documents?

No. NDMA says not to go back inside once you are safe. That is why the guideline asks you to keep documents in the kit by the main exit before any fire starts.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked 14 October 2026. We read the NDMA Urban Fire Safety Guidelines dated 16 March 2026 at ndma.gov.pk/guidelines. The sheet does not explain the reason for each rule, so the line about lifts is our reading. Source: ndma.gov.pk.