Sindh Government Announces Rs100 Million Compensation for Families of Gul Plaza Tragedy Victims

Karachi: The Sindh government has announced compensation of Rs100 million (Rs10 million) each for the families of those who lost their lives in the tragic Gul Plaza fire incident. The announcement was made by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah during a press conference in Karachi.

Addressing the media, the chief minister said a tragic fire broke out at Gul Plaza late the night before last, around 10:15 pm. While the exact cause has not yet been finalized, an initial assessment suggests that the fire may have been caused by a short circuit. He added that approximately 10 percent of the fire was still active and access to the building remained restricted due to safety concerns.

Murad Ali Shah announced immediate implementation of the Fire Safety Audit 2024, which had reviewed 145 buildings. He emphasized that both the government and trader representatives would fulfill their respective responsibilities to prevent such incidents in the future.

The chief minister also announced the formation of an inquiry committee under the leadership of the Karachi Commissioner, with the DIG Karachi assisting. He said forensic assistance would also be sought from a laboratory in Lahore to determine the exact cause of the fire. “This inquiry is not meant to target individuals but to correct systemic mistakes. If evidence of sabotage is found, action will certainly be taken,” he said, adding that no one would be made a scapegoat.

Providing details of the firefighting operation, Murad Ali Shah said that 24 fire brigade vehicles, 10 water bowsers, and four snorkels took part in extinguishing the fire, with 100 firefighters from KMC and another 100 from Rescue 1122 participating in the operation.

Earlier, a high-level meeting chaired by the chief minister reviewed the Gul Plaza incident. The meeting was attended by provincial ministers Sharjeel Inam Memon, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Saeed Ghani, Adviser for Rehabilitation Gianchand Esrani, Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi, senior officials, and representatives of trader bodies.

The chief minister expressed deep grief over the loss of lives, stating that many families had been devastated and hundreds of people lost their livelihoods overnight. He said there were approximately 1,200 shops in Gul Plaza, meaning around 1,200 traders had been affected. “The Sindh government will ensure the rehabilitation of all affected traders,” he assured.

According to a briefing by the Karachi Commissioner, 14 bodies have so far been recovered from the site, while the death toll could exceed 50. The fire has been extinguished and cooling operations are underway. Mayor Karachi informed the meeting that 16 fire tenders and water bowsers were used, while the Water Board supplied 431,000 gallons of water during the firefighting operation.

Adviser Gianchand Esrani informed the meeting that the fire broke out at around 10:36 pm. Gul Plaza was built over an area of 8,000 square yards and housed 1,200 shops. Rescue 1122 ambulances reached the site within six minutes.

Trader representatives unanimously urged the government to ensure immediate rehabilitation so affected shopkeepers could resume their businesses. Accepting their proposals, the chief minister announced that Gul Plaza would be rebuilt and a committee would recommend ways to provide shops to traders on an urgent basis. A forensic report will be conducted to determine the cause of the fire, and a fact-finding committee will be notified by the chief secretary.

The chief minister also announced the formation of a committee to finalize compensation amounts and rehabilitation measures for the victims. The committee includes Minister for Local Government Nasir Hussain Shah, Minister for Labour and Human Resources Saeed Ghani, Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab, and Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi.

Murad Ali Shah noted that President Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari were in constant contact and had directed that traders affected by the tragedy be rehabilitated immediately. He further stated that a comprehensive long-term plan for firefighting and safety measures would be implemented, ensuring emergency exits and fire alarms in buildings across the city.

The chief minister also directed officials to begin debris removal immediately and to personally visit the families of those who lost their lives in the Gul Plaza tragedy to offer condolences and support.