Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has announced compensation of Rs10 million each for the families of those who lost their lives in the deadly Gul Plaza fire in Karachi and pledged that the destroyed building will be rebuilt.
Addressing a press conference in Karachi on Monday, the chief minister termed the incident a “major tragedy” and said the extent of damage was so severe that the entire building may need to be demolished. He said firefighters and rescue teams were attempting to enter the structure from three points, but the blaze had not yet been fully extinguished.
Murad said distribution of compensation to the victims’ families would begin from Tuesday. He added that shopkeepers who suffered losses would also be compensated and assisted in resuming their businesses.
The chief minister stressed that the focus was now on correcting mistakes and preventing similar incidents in the future. He announced that an inquiry into the fire would be conducted under the supervision of the Karachi commissioner. He clarified that the probe was not aimed at targeting any individual, but action would be taken if evidence of sabotage emerged.
“We all need to reflect on our responsibilities. I am accountable to the people,” Murad said, stressing the need to improve emergency access and fire safety standards in commercial buildings.
Earlier, the chief minister chaired a meeting attended by provincial ministers, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab and senior officials, where he vowed full rehabilitation of all affected families and traders. He said a committee would recommend immediate measures to provide traders with alternative shops so they could restart their businesses.
The fire broke out late on Saturday in the multi-storey shopping complex and burned for more than 24 hours, leaving parts of the building collapsed and hampering rescue efforts due to thick smoke. At least 15 bodies have been recovered so far, while the number of missing has risen to 73, according to the Sindh government’s help desk. Officials warned that the death toll could rise further.
Murad also announced compensation for the families of firefighters who died while battling the blaze and confirmed that a fact-finding committee would investigate the cause of the fire. He said debris removal would begin immediately and a forensic examination would be carried out.
Concluding the briefing, the chief minister said a comprehensive long-term fire safety and firefighting plan would be prepared and implemented to prevent such tragedies in the future.
