Karachi, January 21, 2026: The death toll from the massive fire at Karachi’s Gul Plaza surged to 60 on Wednesday after 30 bodies were recovered from a single shop in the multi-storey complex, authorities confirmed.
South DIG Syed Asad Raza told reporters that the victims had locked themselves inside a crockery shop on the mezzanine floor in a bid to survive. A bomb disposal squad is collecting samples from various parts of the building and the recovered bodies to test for the presence of sulfur or explosives.
Out of 87 people reported missing, 60 bodies or remains have been recovered so far. Suleman, owner of the shop where 14 bodies were found, said that his cousins, employees, and customers were inside at the time of the blaze. Meanwhile, Police Surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed noted that remains from two other shops, totaling 21, had been brought to Civil Hospital, but it remains unclear whether they represent individual bodies or partial remains.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah expressed condolences to the bereaved families and assured full support for victims’ families, saying the provincial government would not leave them alone. Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi described the investigation as complex, noting that “no single institute can be held responsible for the Gul Plaza incident.” He confirmed that 86 people remain missing, and rescue operations continue in the damaged building.
Additional IG Azad Khan said there is currently no evidence of terrorism, and a thorough investigation is underway. District South Deputy Commissioner Javed Nabi Khoso said authorities are collecting data on old buildings lacking fire safety systems. Work on 48 under-construction buildings has been halted due to absence of emergency exits, and six others were sealed for missing firefighting equipment.
DC Khoso noted that as long as even one person remains missing, the building will not be demolished. So far, 39 missing individuals have been traced back to Gul Plaza, while 17 recovered bodies await identification; 11 victims have been identified to date.
The fire, which began late on Saturday, is considered Karachi’s largest in over a decade. Gul Plaza houses 1,200 shops in a multi-storey complex covering an area larger than a football field. The blaze raged for more than 24 hours before being extinguished.
According to DC Khoso, parts of the building remain inaccessible, with rescuers clearing debris manually and using machinery. Smoke and heat persist inside, and a cooling process is underway. KMC Fire Officer Zafar Khan highlighted that the building lacked emergency exits and fire extinguishers, and narrow access roads hampered initial firefighting efforts.
Rimpa Plaza, adjacent to Gul Plaza, has been temporarily sealed due to structural damage caused by debris from the fire. The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has directed the removal and repair of unsafe elements under supervision of a qualified structural engineer. No part of Rimpa Plaza may be used until officially declared safe, with legal action threatened for non-compliance.
Sindh Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah reported that a fire safety audit conducted in January 2024 identified 266 buildings in Karachi that failed to meet prescribed safety regulations. The audit, submitted to the Sindh CM on January 19, 2026, underscores long-standing concerns about fire safety in the city.
Rescue and identification operations at Gul Plaza continue, with authorities stressing patience and technical precision to ensure no victims are left unaccounted for.
