Five killed in shopping mall fire in Pakistan

A devastating fire has ripped through a major shopping complex in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi, leaving at least five people dead and around 20 others injured, according to local authorities and hospital officials. The blaze broke out at Gul Plaza, a densely packed shopping mall located on MA Jinnah Road, one of the city’s busiest commercial arteries, and continued to burn for several hours, hampering rescue and firefighting efforts.

The fire reportedly started late on Saturday night and was still not fully extinguished by Sunday morning. Firefighters remained on the scene throughout the night and into the following day, battling intense flames and thick smoke. Rescue operations are ongoing, as emergency teams continue to search the building for possible survivors or additional victims.

Sabir Memon, Executive Director of the Trauma Centre at Karachi’s Civil Hospital, confirmed that three bodies were brought to the hospital, all of whom had died before arrival. Later, Karachi’s Deputy Inspector General of Police, Syed Asad Raza, told the Pakistani daily Dawn that the death toll had risen to five. The figure was subsequently confirmed by rescue spokesperson Hasanul Hasib Khan, who also stated that at least 20 people had sustained injuries, many of them due to smoke inhalation.

By Sunday morning, firefighters had managed to bring roughly 30 per cent of the fire under control. However, efforts were severely complicated by the nature of the building and the goods stored inside. Gul Plaza houses approximately 1,200 shops, both large and small, selling a wide range of merchandise including clothing, household items, electronic components, perfumes and cosmetics. These highly flammable materials significantly intensified the blaze, causing it to spread rapidly across multiple floors.

Rescue officials noted that the building is relatively old, raising serious concerns about its structural integrity. Continuous exposure to extreme heat has weakened the structure, and authorities fear that parts of the building could collapse at any moment. As a result, firefighters and rescue workers are proceeding with extreme caution while continuing their operations.

The incident has once again drawn attention to fire safety standards in crowded commercial buildings across Pakistan’s major cities. Questions are being raised about emergency exits, fire alarms, and the enforcement of building safety regulations, particularly in older shopping complexes that attract thousands of visitors daily.

Below is a summary of the key details known so far:

Authorities have stated that a formal investigation will be launched once the fire is fully extinguished, to determine its cause and assess potential negligence. Meanwhile, the tragedy has cast a sombre shadow over Karachi’s commercial community, with many shop owners and families anxiously awaiting news of loved ones.