Karachi, January 18, 2026: A massive fire that broke out late Saturday night at Gul Plaza shopping mall on MA Jinnah Road continued to rage on Sunday, leaving at least six people dead and more than 50 reportedly missing, as firefighting and rescue operations entered their second day.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah confirmed the fatalities while speaking to the media in the evening, expressing deep grief over the loss of lives. Among the deceased was Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) firefighter Furqan Shoukat, who lost his life during rescue efforts. The chief minister said 22 injured people were taken to hospitals but were later discharged after receiving treatment for minor injuries.
“What is most concerning is that around 58 people — and possibly more — are still missing,” CM Murad said, adding that authorities were making every effort to locate those unaccounted for. According to official records, families have so far reported 53 missing persons to the South district administration.
The Sindh government has established helplines to assist affected families and receive information about missing persons. These include 0313-5048048, 021-99206372 and 021-99205625, while South Zone police issued additional contact numbers for public assistance.
Officials said the fire, which erupted between 9:45pm and 10:15pm on Saturday, had been brought under control by about 70 to 75 per cent by late Sunday afternoon. However, complete extinguishing was proving difficult due to the presence of large quantities of flammable material and the deteriorated condition of the decades-old building.
Gul Plaza, constructed in the 1980s, is a three-storey commercial complex with a basement and houses more than 1,200 shops selling items such as garments, carpets, crockery, cosmetics, perfumes and electrical appliances. Rescue officials said these materials significantly intensified the blaze.
Rescue 1122 and fire brigade officials warned that parts of the building had already collapsed, while other sections were at risk, making it unsafe for firefighters to enter. “Sending personnel inside at this stage is extremely dangerous,” said Rescue 1122 Chief Operating Officer Abid Jalal, adding that the priority was to fully control the fire before initiating a comprehensive search operation.
More than 125 rescue workers, including firefighters, were deployed, with over 20 fire brigade vehicles, water bowsers and snorkels taking part in the operation. Rangers personnel were also deployed to assist in rescue efforts, evacuate trapped individuals and cordon off the area for public safety.
Preliminary assessments by officials, including Sindh IG Javed Alam Odho, suggested that the fire was likely caused by an electrical short circuit in one of the shops, though the final cause will be determined after a detailed investigation.
Taking notice of the incident, CM Murad Ali Shah ordered an immediate inquiry and directed strict enforcement of fire safety regulations across Karachi. He also called for an urgent fire safety audit of commercial buildings in the city and warned of action against those found negligent.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and directed authorities to provide all possible assistance to the injured and affected traders. The prime minister also paid tribute to firefighter Furqan Shoukat, acknowledging his sacrifice in the line of duty.
Traders feared massive financial losses, with the All City Traders Ittehad Association estimating damages worth Rs2 to Rs2.5 billion. Association leaders urged the federal and provincial governments to immediately compensate the affected shopkeepers.
The tragedy has once again highlighted Karachi’s persistent fire safety challenges, with experts warning that poor infrastructure, weak enforcement of regulations and outdated buildings continue to place lives and property at risk in the country’s largest city.
