KARACHI: A devastating fire that tore through Gul Plaza on M.A. Jinnah Road late on January 17 has shaken Pakistan’s largest city, killing at least 26 people and leaving dozens missing, officials said.
The city’s chief fire officer said firefighters brought the blaze under control after 34 hours of continuous efforts. Authorities later declared the building structurally unsafe, raising fears of further collapse.
Search and rescue operations continue with extreme caution. Teams from rescue services, the Pakistan Army, Rangers, and the civil administration are working jointly to locate missing persons. Officials said 26 bodies have been recovered, while a help desk at the deputy commissioner’s office lists 81 people as missing. Authorities have begun collecting DNA samples to identify the victims.
The tragedy also claimed the life of firefighter Furqan Ali, who died when part of the building collapsed during firefighting operations.
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab announced that the Nazimabad Fire Station would be renamed after the fallen firefighter. He also pledged a government job for the widow and full education support for the children.
Eyewitnesses and survivors said 24 of the building’s 26 exits were locked after 10 p.m., turning the plaza into a death trap. They said the building lacked proper emergency exits.
The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) said the plaza had illegal constructions, excessive shops, and encroachments on passageways, which severely hampered rescue efforts.
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Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah announced compensation of Rs10 million per family for the victims. Investigations and relief operations are ongoing.
