The fire at Gul Plaza in Karachi on January 17, 2026, caused massive destruction and has left thousands of people affected. More than 1,000 shops inside the shopping plaza were completely destroyed, leading to financial losses estimated at around Rs. 100 billion.
Many traders said they lost everything in the fire, with some individual losses reaching as high as Rs. 2.5 billion. Years of investment, stock, and business records were wiped out within hours.
The tragic incident also resulted in the loss of at least 26 lives, making it one of the deadliest commercial building fires in the city’s recent history.
Victims included shop workers, visitors, and emergency responders who were trying to control the fire and rescue those trapped inside the building. Thick smoke, blocked exits, and the rapid spread of flames made escape extremely difficult.
The fire exposed serious safety and regulatory failures at Gul Plaza. Traders and officials reported that the building was overcrowded and lacked basic fire safety equipment such as alarms, sprinklers, and proper emergency exits.
Many shops were packed closely together, allowing the fire to spread quickly from one floor to another. Poor maintenance and weak enforcement of safety rules further worsened the situation.
Emergency response was also criticized. Firefighters faced delays in reaching the upper floors, and limited access points made rescue operations slow and risky. By the time the fire was brought under control, much of the building had already been damaged beyond repair.
Following the tragedy, authorities promised a full investigation to identify those responsible for safety violations. The incident has sparked renewed calls for strict enforcement of fire safety laws and regular inspections of commercial buildings to prevent such disasters in the future.
