Gul Plaza will rise again with the same number of shops

WEB DESK: Sindh senior minister Sharjeel Memon has said that saving lives and rehabilitating affected traders are the provincial government’s top priorities following the Gul Plaza tragedy. Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah has ordered a formal inquiry into the incident, and the report could be released at any time, Memon added.

Sindh authorities have confirmed that Gul Plaza will be rebuilt, a process expected to take at least two years. Traders displaced by the incident will be relocated to nearby plazas temporarily, and the reconstructed Gul Plaza will feature the same number of shops as before, Memon said. He emphasised that if the findings of the inquiry are unsatisfactory, a judicial investigation will be conducted. “Anyone found responsible in the report will face action,” Memon said.

The minister also stated that the Sindh government is coordinating with the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and local market associations to ensure Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are strictly enforced. Markets failing to comply with safety regulations will be closed.

The government aims to restore both the physical infrastructure and commercial activity in the area while ensuring stricter safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Investigative report to be presented today

The Karachi Commissioner has completed the investigative report on the Gul Plaza fire and will present it to the CM Sindh.

The report, prepared jointly by the Commissioner and the Additional Inspector General, includes the causes of the fire, details of the rescue operation, and information on victims and eyewitnesses. According to the report, the fire broke out on the ground floor of the plaza, specifically in a flower shop where a child was present, at 10:15 p.m., with the fire brigade notified at 10:26 p.m.

The first fire tender arrived at 10:37 p.m., followed by the rescue team at 10:53 p.m., while the Deputy Commissioner South reached the site around 10:30 p.m. The blaze resulted in 79 deaths, with most fatalities occurring on the ninth floor. The report provides a detailed account of the emergency response and highlights the factors contributing to the high casualty rate.

Last rites held for remaining Gul Plaza victims

Funeral prayers were offered for the remaining two victims of the Gul Plaza tragedy from Delhi Colony, bringing closure to a family that lost six members in the deadly incident. The funeral of Kausar Parveen and Muhammad Ashraf was held at Shamim Mosque in Delhi Colony.

According to officials, the remains of the two victims were identified a day earlier through DNA analysis. Four other members of the same family, who were also burnt to death in the Gul Plaza incident, had been laid to rest on January 25.