Search Operation Enters Critical Fifth Day
KARACHI: Authorities have vowed not to demolish the fire-ravaged Gul Plaza shopping mall until every missing person is accounted for, as a massive search and rescue operation entered its fifth day on Wednesday. The death toll from one of Karachi’s worst fires in over a decade has climbed to 29, with 85 individuals still unaccounted for.
District South Deputy Commissioner Javed Nabi Khoso stated that the building would remain standing as long as there is hope of finding victims. “When everything is complete, the entire building will be demolished,” Khoso told media, emphasizing that no haste would compromise the mission to recover human lives.
Rescue Efforts Face Extreme Conditions
The operation continues under perilous conditions. Officials reported that parts of the colossal structure remain inaccessible, with persistent smoke and intense heat hindering progress. Rescue teams are working both manually and with machinery to clear debris from collapsed sections while a cooling process is underway.
“Search has been carried out in areas which were accessible,” Khoso said, noting that the locations of 39 missing persons have been traced back to the shopping center. Of the 29 bodies recovered, only 11 have been identified, while 17 await identification—a process officials are trying to expedite.
Adjacent High-Rise Declared Unsafe
In a related development, the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has temporarily sealed the adjacent Rimpa Plaza, declaring portions of its structure “unsafe and dangerous.” An SBCA inspection revealed that falling debris from Gul Plaza damaged structural columns of Rimpa Plaza, creating a serious threat to life and property.
The authority has directed the plaza’s management to immediately stop using the damaged section and carry out necessary repairs under supervision of a qualified structural engineer. The building cannot be reoccupied until officially declared safe.
Fire Safety Audit Reveals Systemic Failures
The tragedy has exposed glaring fire safety lapses across Karachi. Sindh Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah revealed that a fire safety audit report—completed in January 2024 but only submitted to the chief minister this week—identified 266 buildings failing to meet safety regulations.
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has expressed displeasure over the delayed report and directed the installation of fire alarms in all non-compliant buildings. The audit was conducted following directions from Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab.
The blaze at Gul Plaza—which housed 1,200 shops across an area larger than a football field—raged for more than 24 hours after igniting late Saturday, marking a devastating start to 2026 for Pakistan’s commercial capital.
