The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation; official documents reveal serious violations in buildings
Firefighters use a snorkel to put out flames after a fire broke out at Gul Plaza Market in Karachi. Photo:X
Gul Plaza, a major shopping center on MA Jinnah Road, was once one of the busiest shopping and wholesale centers in Karachi, attracting thousands of visitors daily. On January 17, a devastating fire ravaged the building, reducing it to ashes within hours.
The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, but official documents revealed serious violations at the buildings, raising concerns about compliance with safety rules and evacuation failures.
Records obtained by The Express PK Press Club of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) show that the number of shops constructed at Gul Plaza far exceeded those approved in the original construction plan. Some stores have been built into designated corridors and exit routes, which could interfere with emergency evacuation.
Learn more: Gul Plaza fire death toll rises to 26 as rescue efforts continue
According to an SBCA official, Gul Plaza was built in the 1980s. An additional floor was added in 1998, during which shops were built in the designated parking area and the roof was converted into a parking lot. The additional floor was then regularized in 2003 and the building owner obtained a certificate of completion on April 14, 2003.
SBCA director South Kishan Chand said as per the approved plan, Gul Plaza was allowed to have three floors, including a basement, with approval for 1,021 shops. However, records indicate that around 1,200 stores were built.
“Records further show that shops were constructed in the aisles and exit passages, in violation of the approved designs,” Chand said. “These illegal constructions may have helped prevent people from escaping during the fire.” Chand added that the final determination on the causes of the fire, delay in controlling it and failures in evacuation will be made once the investigation team completes its investigation.
Read also: Outcry over Gul Plaza tragedy as traders, opposition demand relief
The massive fire broke out Saturday evening, quickly spreading from the basement and ground floor to the upper floors of the building. It burned for more than 36 hours, causing parts of the structure to collapse and leaving the building extremely unstable.
Rescue and firefighting operations continued Sunday and Monday, with crews battling intense heat, thick smoke and falling debris while searching for trapped victims.
Karachi has witnessed several fires in recent months, including fires at industrial sites and warehouses, causing significant financial losses but no deaths.
Fires broke out in Mawach Goth, Manghopir Northern Bypass Area and SITE Super Highway Industrial Zone, prompting large-scale firefighting operations involving multiple firefighters and rescue teams as authorities battled high winds, flammable materials and access problems.
