He says the fire may have broken out due to a short circuit, president, prime minister and ministers send condolence messages
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah visits the site of the devastating fire in Gul Plaza, Karachi. Photo: Sindh CM House
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah visited the site of the devastating Gul Plaza fire, reviewed the rescue and fire-fighting operations and met the affected traders and families. He assured them that the government would conduct a thorough investigation and provide all possible assistance to the victims.
Murad Ali Shah said the fire was reported after 10 p.m., with the first fire tender arriving at 10:27 p.m. A total of 26 firefighters, four snorkels and 10 water tankers took part in the operation, supported by the Navy, KPT and the Civil Aviation Authority.
The chief minister said that as per reports, six people, including a KMC firefighter, lost their lives, while 22 injured were treated and released. However, 58 to 60 people remain missing. He described the situation as alarming and prayed for their safety.
Speaking to the media, Shah said the affected building had a basement, ground floor and three upper floors housing over 1,000 shops. Initial reports suggest that the fire may have started due to a short circuit and spread quickly due to flammable materials. He added that firefighters faced serious difficulties due to the configuration of the building and limited access points, which compounded the damage.
Read: Karachi Gul Plaza fire continues to burn as 56 people remain missing, 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 sorrow and sadness over the tragic fire in Karachi and conveyed his condolences and sympathy 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 sadness over the loss of precious lives in the incident and extended sincere condolences to the bereaved families.
Federal Government Spokesperson on Sindh Affairs Raja Khaliq Zaman Ansari visited the fire-affected Gul Plaza and conveying a special message from the Prime Minister said that the Federal Government and the entire nation stood with the affected people in this hour of mourning.
Sindh Chief Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Sunday expressed deep sorrow and reiterated that human security is the primary concern of the Sindh government, with a detailed investigation already underway.
Speaking to the media, Sharjeel stressed that this is not the time to play politics, urging everyone to focus on relief efforts and support the victims of the tragedy.
Sindh Minister of Labour, Human Resources and Social Welfare Saeed Ghani assured that the Sindh government will provide financial compensation to the victims. He, however, stressed that the immediate priority was to completely extinguish the fire, rescue those trapped inside and complete the search operation.
Learn more: Outcry over Gul Plaza tragedy as traders, opposition demand relief
On Sunday, Ghani visited the affected square and reviewed the ongoing rescue efforts. He requested details from officials overseeing the operation and gave necessary instructions.
Later speaking to the media about building safety regulations, Ghani noted that Karachi has thousands of buildings and the government cannot enforce laws everywhere by force alone. He stressed the need for cooperation and public awareness, while promising that the government would learn lessons from this tragedy and shoulder 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 perished in the fire, to express their condolences.
