A detailed report by authorities regarding the fire at Karachi’s Gul Plaza has come to light, highlighting serious shortcomings in basic safety facilities within the building. According to the report, Gul Plaza had no designated emergency exit points, and there were no proper arrangements in place to deal with fire incidents.
The report stated that the building’s narrow entry and exit points created significant technical difficulties for firefighting teams, severely hampering rescue and fire suppression efforts during the operation.
According to officials, Gul Plaza was constructed in 1995 and initially consisted of a basement, ground floor, and first floor only. By 2003, three additional floors were constructed at different times, expanding the structure vertically.
The report further revealed that while the building was designed to accommodate around 500 shops, the actual number of shops had increased from 500 to nearly 1,200 over time, placing excessive strain on the structure.
Located on MA Jinnah Road, Gul Plaza was hit by a third-degree fire that resulted in the deaths of six people, while the intensity of the blaze caused several sections of the building to collapse. According to the report, the fire broke out on Saturday night at around 10:15 p.m. on the ground floor and rapidly spread to the third floor.
