KARACHI: A district official on Sunday mentioned {that a} large blaze on the metropolis’s Gul Plaza shopping center has been introduced underneath management by about 70 per cent, however firefighters had been nonetheless busy extinguishing the flames.
Authorities have confirmed six deaths to date, together with a firefighter, after the fireplace erupted on Saturday night time on the mall positioned on MA Jinnah Street.
South Deputy Commissioner (DC) Javed Nabi Khoso confirmed to a DawnNewsTV correspondent that at the least six individuals have died to date, whereas “round 22” individuals, together with firefighters, had been injured.
He added that the fireplace has been introduced underneath management by as much as 70pc.
Chatting with Geo Information some time earlier than, he mentioned their info desk has obtained the names of 16 lacking individuals from their households to date.
“We have now cordoned off the world and are attempting to extinguish the blazes phase-wise,” DC Khoso mentioned, including that authorities had been gathering details about the variety of individuals trapped contained in the constructing.
The Sindh authorities has established a helpline to report anybody lacking because of the hearth or to direct their queries, which could be contacted at 0313-5048048, 021-99206372 and 021-99205625.
A separate assertion by the South Zone police additionally listed the next helpline contact numbers: 021-99205670, 021-99201196 and 021-99205691.
A whole bunch of individuals had gathered across the constructing right now, together with distraught retailer house owners whose companies had turned to ash.
Rescue 1122 Chief Working Officer (COO) Abid Jalal informed Geo Information within the afternoon that “firefighting is underneath means from all three sides”.
He additionally mentioned that the fireplace had been introduced underneath management by about 70-75pc. Nonetheless, he harassed that the constructing was very dilapidated.
“The bottom has collapsed, and the entrance space can also be about to break down.”
Terming flammable materials contained in the mall because the “largest problem” in totally dousing the blaze, COO Jalal identified that accessing the constructing was very tough.
“Sending firefighters inside proper now shouldn’t be with out hazard,” the rescue officer mentioned. Due to this fact, he added, the workforce’s technique was to manage the fireplace first after which start the search as soon as they had been capable of enter the mall.
COO Jalal detailed that over 125 individuals, together with firefighters, had been engaged within the ongoing operations and about 20-22 automobiles of the fireplace brigade had been concerned.
A DawnNewsTV correspondent current on the website reported that every one sides of the mall had been impacted, with one having “fully collapsed”.
He added that a number of individuals had come to search for their kinfolk, together with shopkeepers working on the mall.
Delhi Colony residents Mansoor and Jameel informed DawnNewsTV that they had been unable to contact six of their members of the family who had come to Gul Plaza final night time for purchasing.
They mentioned their final contact was at round 10:10pm final night time, after which their cell numbers weren’t reachable. The lacking members comprised three ladies, two males and a 14-year-old lady.
Chatting with the media on the website within the afternoon, Karachi Deputy Mayor Salman Abdullah Murad mentioned the seek for lacking individuals will start after the fireplace has been put out and the cooling course of has been accomplished.
‘Very outdated’ constructing
Rescue providers obtained a name at 10:38pm on Saturday night time reporting that ground-floor outlets had been ablaze.
“There have been items resembling crockery, garments, electrical home equipment, cosmetics and perfumes in numerous outlets, resulting from which the fireplace intensified,” Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassaanul Haseeb Khan defined.
The spokesperson added that on Sunday morning, 20 hearth tenders from completely different departments and establishments had been being employed to extinguish the blaze.
“However the constructing seems very outdated, and there’s a hazard that its construction might fall at any time due to the influence of the fireplace. Thus, the rescue operation is being carried out with excessive warning,” he mentioned.
“Once we arrived, the fireplace from the bottom ground had unfold to the higher flooring, and virtually your entire constructing was already engulfed in flames,” Khan informed Reuters.
A Rescue 1122 spokesperson informed BBC Urdu early on Sunday that the fireplace “unfold over 8,000 sq. yards could be very intense and the method to extinguish it [fully] may take one to 2 days”.
Earlier within the day, police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed additionally confirmed that six our bodies and 11 injured had been delivered to Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) to date. State-run APP reported that an emergency has been declared on the hospital.
In an announcement run by APP, Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon mentioned “greater than 17 individuals” had been taken to hospitals resulting from suffocation, a number of of whom had been discharged after receiving medical therapy.
Noting that Gul Plaza was an outdated constructing, he mentioned the ultimate explanation for the fireplace will solely be identified after the completion of investigations. He added that 40 snorkels had been participating within the operation.
A firefighter recognized as Furqan Shoukat additionally misplaced his life throughout the fire-extinguishing efforts, in line with an announcement by Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab.
“On this time of grief, we stand with the household of martyred Furqan and the Karachi Metropolitan Company will present full help to its martyred staff,” the mayor was quoted as saying by APP.
He mentioned groups and equipment are totally engaged in extinguishing the fireplace.
In a separate assertion, Wahab mentioned all municipal departments have been directed to supply full help to the victims.
‘Seemingly attributable to brief circuit’
Sindh Inspector Common (IG) Javed Alam Odho informed reporters on the website that the fireplace had erupted at round 10:45pm final night time.
“It seems to have been attributable to a circuit breaker,” he mentioned, noting that Gul Plaza housed round 1,200 outlets and in addition had a basement.
“The format and development of this market was such, and secondly, the character of the gadgets in it — resembling carpets, blankets and different objects product of resins — so the fireplace remains to be simmering due to these.”
Backyard Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Mohsin Raza additionally mentioned in an announcement on Saturday night time that the fireplace appeared to have been attributable to a brief circuit at one of many outlets, earlier than spreading to your entire mall.
Sindh Dwelling Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar directed officers to divert site visitors within the space to various routes for the secure passage of residents.
In an announcement, he mentioned that the reason for the fireplace needs to be ascertained by means of an intensive investigation. He mentioned that the constructing needs to be secured in order that the fireplace doesn’t unfold.
The minister mentioned the routes needs to be cleared so that fireside brigade automobiles may entry the scene.
A Sindh Rangers spokesperson mentioned in an announcement that personnel had been deployed to the scene of the incident.
“Rangers personnel are actively taking part in rescue actions and rescue operations together with the fireplace brigade employees,” the assertion, which was issued shortly after the fireplace erupted, mentioned. “Officers and personnel will stay on the scene till the rescue operation is accomplished.”
The assertion additional learn that along with aiding in rescue operations, a contingent of Rangers had been deployed to cordon off the constructing for the protection of civilians and to make sure site visitors movement.
“Alongside hearth tenders, Rangers personnel are evacuating trapped individuals and guaranteeing the protection of valuables,” the assertion learn, including that defending lives and stopping the fireplace from additional spreading was a prime precedence.
CM Murad orders inquiry
Taking discover of the incident, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah issued orders to the Karachi commissioner for an instantaneous inquiry into the matter and to arrange a report on the reason for the fireplace.
“The fireplace security preparations within the constructing needs to be inspected,” CM Murad was quoted as saying in an announcement.
He ordered the strict implementation of fireplace security guidelines and motion towards these whose negligence or carelessness could be confirmed.
“A hearth security audit ought to instantly be carried out of Karachi’s business buildings,” CM Murad mentioned.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had ordered the Sindh CM to deploy all sources to manage the fireplace, APP reported.
Expressing grief over the lack of life and property, he provided condolences to the bereaved households and demanded an instantaneous probe to forestall future tragedies.
President, PM vow help for affected merchants
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed their deep grief over the fireplace at Gul Plaza and the ensuing lack of lives.
In an announcement reported by APP, PM Shehbaz directed that every one doable measures be taken to make sure the protection of individuals’s lives and property.
He additional instructed that every one doable help needs to be offered to the affected merchants and different people, and that every one essential amenities needs to be offered to the injured.
He harassed that every one related departments ought to work collectively within the rescue operation.
The premier, in a separate assertion reported by Radio Pakistan, additionally expressed sorrow over firefighter Furqan’s demise.
PM Shehbaz highlighted that Furqan sacrificed his life whereas saving the general public, and prayed for his elevated ranks.
In his assertion, President Zardari directed that the Sindh authorities — which is of his PPP — and the related authorities “present rapid and each doable help to the affected individuals and the merchants”.
“No stone needs to be left unturned in offering the perfect medical amenities to the injured,” the assertion quoted him as saying.
In an announcement reported by APP, Memon mentioned the Sindh authorities will resolve the longer term plan of action after a whole evaluation of the losses.
The minister mentioned that whether or not it’s the dealer neighborhood or different affected people, the federal government will make each effort to supply most doable help throughout the framework of regulation and rules.
Chief secretary, governor go to website
Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah visited the location of the incident earlier within the day to evaluate the rescue operations.
The South deputy commissioner and Rescue 1122 officers briefed him on the steps taken to manage the fireplace.
The chief secretary issued orders for the deployment of all out there hearth tenders and extra rescue employees.
Quickly after the fireplace started, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori had additionally visited Gul Plaza, the place he was briefed on the rescue and aid operations.
Standing alongside the merchants whose outlets had been ablaze, the governor issued directives for the rehabilitation of the affected.
Previous to his go to, in an announcement from his workplace, Tessori expressed concern over the incident and ordered the related authorities to instantly expedite rescue and aid operations.
He additionally ordered an instantaneous report on the incident and firefighting operations, whereas assuring merchants and others affected by the blaze of full cooperation.
Frequent fires in metropolis
Gul Plaza has witnessed hearth incidents up to now as properly.
In August 2016, greater than 25 outlets had been burnt in an enormous hearth that broke out within the multi-storey market. It was believed {that a} brief circuit triggered the fireplace.
A hearth at a warehouse in Gul Plaza in August 2008, additionally attributable to an electrical short-circuit, destroyed some items. Nonetheless, no casualty was reported.
Fires incessantly erupt in buildings throughout Pakistan resulting from a mixture of poor infrastructure, weak enforcement of security rules, and widespread negligence. Many constructions lack correct hearth exits, alarms, and emergency protocols, whereas defective wiring and overloaded energy methods improve the danger {of electrical} brief circuits.
At a convention in October 2025 following a number of hearth incidents, metropolis planners, hearth consultants and catastrophe administration authorities raised critical considerations over the deteriorating state of fireplace preparedness in Karachi.
They urged authorities to take rapid motion to align the metropolis’s hearth security methods with worldwide requirements, warning that the present state leaves town dangerously uncovered to large-scale emergencies.
In December, the Sindh Meeting voted unanimously in favour of an opposition-sponsored decision that known as for the great modernisation of Karachi’s insufficient and substandard firefighting system.
This can be a growing story that’s being up to date because the scenario evolves. Preliminary stories within the media can typically be inaccurate. We are going to try to make sure timeliness and accuracy by counting on credible sources, resembling involved, certified authorities and our employees reporters.
Extra enter by Imran Ahad Khan
