Deadly fires in Pakistan: A decade of tragedies, inquiries and failed accountability

ISLAMABAD: Fire incidents in Pakistan continue to claim precious lives with alarming regularity. Yet, after almost every major tragedy, authorities announce an inquiry, only for responsibility and accountability to fade from public view.

Responsibility is rarely fixed, lessons are seldom learned, and systemic reforms are rarely enforced.

The horrific deaths of 14 newborn babies in the PIMS neonatal ward are not merely an isolated tragedy. The fact that infants in incubators and receiving life-sustaining care were unable to escape a fire at a top federal healthcare facility points to serious failures of institutional governance and emergency preparedness.

Here is a timeline of some of the country’s major fire-related incidents from 2016 to 2026:

Ashraf Garment Factory fire in Lahore

At least three workers were killed after a fire engulfed the double-storey Ashraf Garment Factory in Lahore in November 2016.

Investigators initially attributed the fire to a short circuit and found that workers had no proper emergency exit.

Police arrested the factory owner for allegedly violating building-control laws.

The factory was sealed on the orders of the Punjab labour minister and an inquiry was launched. Compensation of Rs900,000 was announced for each deceased worker’s family.

Regent Plaza Hotel fire

At least 12 people were killed and more than 75 injured in a fire at the Regent Plaza Hotel in Karachi on December 5, 2016.

The fire started in the hotel kitchen and spread through the building.

An inquiry found serious shortcomings in the hotel’s fire-safety arrangements, including non-functioning alarms and heat sensors, inadequate emergency arrangements and delayed notification of emergency services.

Police registered an FIR against the hotel owners and senior management for alleged criminal negligence.

Five people, including the chief executive officer, managing director, chief security officer and engineers, were booked for manslaughter. A final charge sheet said the hotel’s fire-safety system was outdated and had become dysfunctional.

Bahawalpur oil tanker fire

At least 200 people were killed and more than 100 injured after an overturned oil tanker caught fire in Bahawalpur on June 25, 2017.

The tanker overturned and spilled petrol on the Karachi-Lahore road. People gathered at the site to collect the leaked fuel before it ignited, causing one of Pakistan’s deadliest fire-related disasters of the decade. Contemporary reports put the death toll at different figures as the number of victims rose. ([Wikipedia][1])

Authorities launched an investigation and announced compensation for the victims. The incident triggered renewed debate over hazardous-material transportation, road safety and emergency response.

Sunday Bazaar fire in Islamabad

At least 550 stalls were gutted and another 98 stalls and a shoe market were damaged after a fire broke out at the H-9 Sunday Bazaar in Islamabad on August 24, 2017.

The bazaar suffered further major fires in 2018 and 2019.

Cosmetics factory explosion in Karachi

At least one person was killed in an explosion at a cosmetics factory in Karachi’s Nursery area on September 20, 2017.

Initial reports said chemicals stored inside the factory caused the explosion.

Shoe factory fire in Lahore

At least one person was killed and five others injured in a shoe factory fire in Lahore on March 17, 2018.

The watchman later died from his burns.

The cause was initially unknown. Rescue 1122 and the fire brigade extinguished the blaze, while the incident was investigated, but the report was not made public.

Hotel Afandi gas explosion in Peshawar

At least six people were killed and two others injured in an explosion at Hotel Afandi in Peshawar on May 11, 2018.

A gas leak caused the explosion, which ripped through a hotel room and killed six members of a family. The resulting fire spread to other floors.

Police and bomb-disposal personnel examined the site and ruled out an explosive device and terrorism.

Tezgam Express fire

At least 75 people were killed and more than 40 injured after a fire swept through the Tezgam Express near Rahim Yar Khan on October 31, 2019.

The fire engulfed three carriages of the Karachi-Rawalpindi train.

Authorities initially blamed passengers carrying gas cylinders and stoves for cooking, although conflicting accounts emerged over the cause. A subsequent inquiry found that a short circuit in the train’s electrical wiring was responsible, contradicting the initial account of a cylinder blast.

NICH children’s ward fire in Karachi

At least one newborn was killed after a fire broke out in the children’s ward of the National Institute of Child Health (NICH) in Karachi in January 2020.

The initial cause was reported to be an electrical short circuit.

Hospital staff and firefighters extinguished the fire. The subsequent inquiry report was not made public.

Landhi Export Processing Zone factory fire

A fire broke out at the Landhi Export Processing Zone in Karachi in July 2020, but no deaths were reported.

The fire started at a cardboard factory and spread to two neighbouring factories manufacturing cloth and plastic.

Authorities evacuated the industrial zone to prevent casualties. Firefighters battled the blaze for hours before bringing it under control.

Hijrat Colony building fire in Karachi

At least four people were killed and eight injured after a fire engulfed a three-storey residential building in Karachi’s Hijrat Colony on September 12, 2020.

Narrow streets hampered the rescue operation. Police, Rescue 1122 and firefighters responded and brought the blaze under control after about two hours.

New Karachi factory boiler explosion

At least eight people were killed and 30 injured in a factory boiler explosion in New Karachi on December 22, 2020.

The explosion occurred at an ice factory in Sector 12-C of the New Karachi Industrial Area near Saba Cinema.

The blast destroyed the factory, partially damaged its office and caused extensive damage to at least three adjoining industrial units and two houses.

Investigators suspected that chemicals stored in drums may have contributed to the intensity of the blast.

Police, firefighters, Rangers and labour and industries officials reached the scene. Rescue teams searched the rubble and transported casualties to hospitals.

The exact cause was investigated, but the inquiry report was not made public.

BM Luggage factory fire in Karachi

At least 16 people were killed after a fire, reportedly caused by an electrical short circuit, spread through the illegally operating BM Luggage factory in a residential area of Mehran Town, Karachi, on August 27, 2021.

Workers became trapped after exits and windows had been blocked or barred.

Police registered a manslaughter case against the factory and building owners, supervisors and a watchman. Several suspects were arrested after a court rejected their pre-arrest bail applications.

Private hospital fire in Karachi

At least two people were killed and one injured after a fire broke out at a private hospital in Karachi on January 17, 2022.

The fire erupted in a generator room during maintenance work, killing two workers and filling parts of the hospital with smoke.

Three fire engines were deployed and patients were moved to safer areas. The subsequent investigation was not made public.

Children’s Hospital fire in Lahore

A fire broke out at the Children’s Hospital in Lahore on June 4, 2022, but no deaths were reported.

The fire started in a medical store on the third floor and destroyed medicines and other medical supplies. A Rescue 1122 team battled the blaze for about six hours.

The incident raised questions about the storage of potentially flammable medical supplies. The inquiry report was not made public.

New Karachi factory fire

At least four firefighters were killed and 13 injured while battling a fire that broke out at two factories in Karachi’s New Karachi area on April 12-13, 2023.

Parts of the buildings collapsed during the rescue operation, killing four firefighters.

Karachi authorities ordered an investigation, but the inquiry report was not made public.

Bhatti Gate house fire in Lahore

At least 10 members of a family, including six children and four women, were killed after a fire broke out in a three-storey house in Lahore’s Bhatti Gate area in July 2023 while they were asleep.

Rescue 1122 and police conducted the rescue operation. One family member survived after jumping from the third floor.

The incident raised questions about fire safety in residential buildings, but the subsequent inquiry was not made public.

Shopping mall fire in Karachi

At least 11 people were killed and 22 injured after a fire broke out at RJ Shopping Mall in Karachi on November 25, 2023.

The fire swept through the multi-storey building. Police later concluded that a short circuit caused by substandard electrical wiring had triggered the blaze and that the victims died from suffocation because of inadequate ventilation.

A police inquiry held the building owner and administration, as well as call-centre owners, responsible. Police arrested eight people in connection with the case, while three others were separately arrested for allegedly attempting to remove evidence from the sealed building.

Ayesha Manzil building fire in Karachi

At least three people were killed and two injured after a fire broke out in a six-storey commercial-cum-residential building near Ayesha Manzil in Karachi on December 6, 2023.

Twelve fire engines, two snorkels and two water bowsers were deployed to extinguish the blaze.

Ittehad Town house fire in Karachi

At least three people, including twin infants, were killed after a fire broke out in a house in Karachi’s Ittehad Town on January 12, 2024.

Police said thermocol or polystyrene sheets and other flammable materials had been illegally stored inside the house. The fire was suspected to have been caused by a short circuit, while the victims died from suffocation.

Police investigated the incident and concluded that the illegally stored flammable material had contributed to the blaze.

New Chali gas-cylinder blast in Karachi

At least two people were killed and five injured in a gas-cylinder blast in Karachi’s New Chali area on April 30, 2024.

The fire broke out at a generator shop while an employee was making tea. The subsequent blast caused the roofs of two shops to collapse.

Authorities ruled out sabotage and described the incident as an accidental gas-cylinder explosion. Rescue 1122 and firefighters recovered the bodies and brought the blaze under control.

Shah Faisal Colony fire in Karachi

At least one person was killed in a residential building fire in Karachi’s Shah Faisal Colony on September 11, 2024.

Rescue 1122 said its rapid response brought the fire under control.

Fireworks warehouse explosion in Karachi

At least 34 people were injured in a fire and explosion at a fireworks warehouse in Karachi on August 21, 2025.

Police investigated the incident, but no detailed report was made public.

DHA building fire in Karachi

At least two people were killed and nine injured after a fire broke out at a car showroom on the ground floor of a residential-commercial building in Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA) area on September 27, 2025.

Two women died from suffocation.

Rescue teams took part in the operation, while authorities investigated the cause of the fire and the building’s safety arrangements.

Faisalabad glue factory fire

At least 18 people were killed and 21 injured after a boiler exploded at a glue-making factory in Faisalabad in December 2025.

Authorities said the factory had been illegally constructed in a residential area.

Police arrested the factory manager, while the cause of the incident remained under investigation. No detailed inquiry report was made public.

Gul Plaza fire

At least 80 people were killed and more than 20 seriously injured after a fire broke out at Gul Plaza in Karachi’s Saddar area along MA Jinnah Road on January 17, 2026. Contemporary reporting and later accounts have differed over the final death toll and details of the fire’s origin.

The fire erupted at approximately 10:15pm and took roughly 36 hours to be fully extinguished.

A Sindh government investigation found that the fire originated at a ground-floor artificial flower shop.

Investigations found that Gul Plaza had operated as a serious fire hazard despite previous warnings. The building lacked fire alarms, functioning sprinklers, hydrants and clear evacuation signs.

Police registered a first information report (FIR) citing extreme negligence and criminal carelessness. Charges were brought against the shop owner, four members of the Gul Plaza Management Committee and a minor, whose case was to be processed through a juvenile court.

The investigation also pointed to institutional negligence by building and civic authorities.