Karachi: Six people, including a firefighter, were killed, and several others remained trapped more than 12 hours later after a massive fire broke out at a huge shopping mall in Pakistan’s Karachi, officials said Sunday.
Sindh Inspector General of Police (IG) Javed Alam Odho told the media on site that the fire at the Gul Plaza on the city’s busy MA Jinnah Road had erupted at around 10:45 pm on Saturday.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah directed Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi to immediately inquire into the incident, investigate the reasons behind the fire, and submit a report, according to a statement.
The blaze reportedly started on the ground floor and quickly spread upward, affecting multiple sections of the building.
Officials have confirmed six deaths so far, including firefighter Furqan Shoukat, who lost his life while battling the blaze.
Hospital authorities said at least 15–20 people were injured, mostly due to smoke inhalation. Most of the injured were discharged after receiving medical treatment. Emergency services declared an emergency at Civil Hospital Karachi as rescue efforts continued.
Authorities have cautioned that the death toll may rise, as concerns remain that some people could still be trapped inside the building.
The exact cause is still under investigation, but IGP Odho said the fire appears to have been caused by an accidental short circuit.
“Once the fire is fully extinguished and the cooling period is complete, we will allow only rescue teams inside. After that, a formal inquiry will be launched to determine the exact cause,” Odho told reporters.
A team formed by the Karachi commissioner will examine the possibility of a short circuit and other contributing factors.
The old layout and construction of the building
Poor ventilation and sealed windows, trapping smoke inside
Large quantities of highly flammable materials, including carpets, blankets and resin-based decorative items
Narrow internal passages that limited firefighter access.
Parts of the structure have collapsed, and authorities warned that the building remains structurally unsafe.
More than 20 fire tenders, snorkels and heavy machinery from multiple agencies — including the fire brigade, Rescue 1122, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, Pakistan Navy, police and Sindh Rangers — were deployed.
Firefighters continued working through the night and into Sunday, with officials saying the fire had been brought around 60 per cent under control by Sunday afternoon. Cooling operations will begin once the blaze is fully extinguished, followed by a search for missing persons.
IG Odho urged the public to stay away from the site, saying only professional responders should be present due to safety risks.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has ordered an immediate inquiry, directing Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi to determine the cause of the fire and submit a report.
Inspection of fire safety arrangements at Gul Plaza
Strict action against anyone found negligent.
