Death toll rises to 6 in a fire at a shopping plaza in Pakistan’s city of Karachi

A devastating fire tore through a multistory shopping complex in Karachi overnight, killing six people and causing extensive damage to hundreds of shops. The blaze, which began late Saturday at Gul Plaza, spread quickly through the four-story structure that housed approximately 1,200 businesses.

Dr. Abid Jalal Sheikh, Karachi’s chief rescue officer, confirmed that firefighters managed to contain about 75 percent of the fire by Sunday afternoon, though officials estimated it would take an additional four to six hours to fully extinguish the remaining flames. The structure suffered partial collapse during the incident, complicating rescue efforts.

Among the six fatalities was a firefighter who perished while attempting to battle flames on the upper floors of the building. The other five victims were recovered from various parts of the complex, including its basement. Rescue teams indicated that more people might still be trapped inside as anxious families continued searching for missing relatives throughout the day.

“The fire spread with alarming speed due to the nature of goods stored in the shops,” said Sheikh. “Many businesses were stocked with highly flammable items like cosmetics, garments, and plastic products, which fueled the intensity of the blaze.”

Television footage from the scene showed dramatic images of firefighting crews in protective gear working amid billowing dark smoke as they tried to prevent the fire from spreading to neighboring buildings in the densely populated commercial district.

The cause of the fire remains undetermined, with authorities pledging to conduct a thorough investigation once the situation is fully under control. Local officials have not yet released damage estimates, but the economic impact is expected to be significant given the number of businesses affected.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed condolences for those who lost their lives and directed local authorities to utilize all available resources to prevent further casualties and assist those affected by the disaster.

This incident highlights ongoing safety concerns in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city and economic hub. The metropolis has experienced numerous deadly fires in recent years, many of which safety experts attribute to inadequate building standards, poor enforcement of fire codes, and unauthorized construction practices.

Just last November, another fire at a shopping mall in Karachi claimed 10 lives and left 22 people injured. That incident prompted calls for stricter implementation of building safety regulations, but meaningful reforms have been slow to materialize.

Karachi’s rapid urbanization and population growth have outpaced infrastructure development, creating challenges for emergency services. The city’s fire department has frequently complained about being understaffed and underequipped to handle emergencies in a sprawling urban area of over 16 million people.

Local business associations have repeatedly urged authorities to implement comprehensive fire safety measures in commercial buildings, including mandatory installation of sprinkler systems, fire exits, and regular safety inspections.

“These tragedies will continue until we see serious enforcement of building codes,” said Muhammad Saeed, a representative of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce, speaking to local media. “Many of these older shopping plazas were built decades ago with minimal safety features and have never been properly upgraded.”

As firefighters worked to fully extinguish the blaze, affected shop owners gathered near the site, anxiously waiting to assess damages to their businesses, many of which represent their primary source of income and are likely uninsured.