The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation; official documents reveal serious building violations
Firefighters use a snorkel to put out the flames after a fire broke out at the Gul Plaza market in Karachi. Photo: X
Gul Plaza, a large commercial center on MA Jinnah Road, was once one of Karachi’s busiest shopping and wholesale hubs, attracting thousands of visitors daily. On January 17, a devastating fire engulfed the building and it was reduced to ashes within hours.
The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, but official documents have revealed serious building violations, raising concerns about safety compliance and evacuation failures.
Records obtained by Express Pakinomist from the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) shows that the number of shops built in Gul Plaza far exceeded those approved in the original building plan. Some stores were built on corridors and designated exit routes, potentially preventing emergency evacuation.
Read more: The death toll in the Gul Plaza fire rises to 26 as rescue efforts continue
According to an SBCA official, Gul Plaza was originally built in the 1980s. An extra floor was added in 1998, where shops were built in the designated parking area and the roof was converted into a car park. The additional floor was later regulated in 2003 and the building owner obtained a completion certificate on 14 April 2003.
SBCA director South Kishan Chand said that according to the approved plan, Gul Plaza was given permission to have three floors, including a basement, with approval for 1,021 shops. However, documents show that around 1,200 shops were built.
“The records further show that shops were built in footbridges and exit passages, violating approved designs,” Chand said. “These illegal constructions may have contributed to people not being able to escape during the fire.” Chand added that the final decision on the causes of the fire, the delay in controlling it and the evacuation failures will be made after the investigation team completes its investigation.
Read also: Scream over Gul Plaza tragedy as traders, opposition demand relief
The massive fire broke out late Saturday night and quickly spread from the basement and ground floor to the upper levels of the building. It burned for more than 36 hours, causing parts of the structure to collapse and leaving the building critically unstable.
Rescue and firefighting operations continued Sunday and Monday, with teams battling intense heat, heavy smoke and falling debris as they searched for trapped victims.
Karachi has witnessed several fire incidents in recent months, including blazes at industrial and warehouse sites that have caused extensive economic losses but no deaths.
Fires broke out in Mawach Goth, Manghopir Northern Bypass Area and SITE Super Highway Industrial Zone, prompting large-scale firefighting operations involving multiple fire services and rescue teams as authorities battled strong winds, combustible materials and access challenges.
