Says fire may have started due to short circuit, President, Prime Minister, Ministers send condolence messages
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah visits the site of the devastating fire at Gul Plaza, Karachi. Photo: Sindh CM House
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah visited the site of the devastating fire at Gul Plaza, reviewed the rescue and firefighting operations and met the affected traders and families. He assured them that the government will carry out a full investigation and provide all possible assistance to the victims.
Murad Ali Shah said the fire was reported after 10:00 p.m. and the first fire patrol arrived at 10:27 p.m. A total of 26 firefighting units, four snorkels and 10 water launchers participated in the operation, with the support of the Navy, KPT and the Civil Aviation Authority.
The chief minister said six people, including a KMC firefighter, reportedly lost their lives, while 22 injured were treated and discharged. However, between 58 and 60 people are still missing. He described the situation as alarming and prayed for their safety.
Shah explained to the media that the affected building had a basement, a ground floor and three upper floors with more than 1,000 shops. Initial reports suggest that the fire may have started due to a short circuit and spread rapidly due to flammable materials. He added that firefighters faced serious difficulties due to the building’s layout and limited access points, which worsened the damage.
Read: Karachi Gul Plaza fire continues to burn, 56 people still missing and death toll rises to six
During the visit, Labor Minister Saeed Ghani and Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi briefed the Chief Minister about the incident and ongoing efforts.
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday expressed deep grief and sadness over the tragic fire incident in Karachi and conveyed his condolences and solidarity to the bereaved families. The President directed the Sindh government and relevant authorities to provide immediate support to the affected people and traders.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the loss of precious lives in the incident and extended his deepest condolences to the bereaved families.
Federal Government Spokesperson for Sindh Affairs Raja Khaliq Zaman Ansari visited the fire-affected Gul Square and conveying a special message from the Prime Minister said that the federal government and the entire nation stand shoulder to shoulder with the affected people in this hour of grief.
Sindh Chief Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Sunday expressed deep sorrow and reaffirmed that human security is the main concern of the Sindh government, and a detailed investigation is already underway.
Speaking to the media, Sharjeel emphasized that this is not the time for politics and urged everyone to focus on relief efforts and support for the victims of the tragedy.
Sindh Minister of Labour, Human Resources and Social Protection Saeed Ghani assured that the Sindh government will provide financial compensation to the victims. However, he stressed that the immediate priority is to completely extinguish the fire, rescue those trapped inside and complete the search operation.
Read more: Protest over Gul Plaza tragedy as merchants and opposition demand help
On Sunday, Ghani visited the affected square and reviewed ongoing rescue efforts. He asked the officials supervising the operation for details and gave the necessary instructions.
Speaking later to the media about construction safety standards, Ghani noted that Karachi has thousands of buildings and the government cannot enforce laws everywhere through force alone. He stressed the need for cooperation and public awareness, while promising that the government will learn lessons from this tragedy and fulfill its responsibilities.
Later, Ghani and Deputy Mayor Salman Murad attended the funeral prayers of young trader Kashif Rehmatullah, who lost his life in the incident. They offered their condolences to his father, Rehmatullah, his father-in-law Yaqoob Memon and other family members, and prayed for the deceased. The minister and the deputy mayor also visited the family of another trader, Faraz, who died in the fire, to express their condolences.
