Sindh CM Announces Reconstruction of Gul Plaza, Rs500,000 Compensation for Each Shopkeeper

Karachi: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has announced the reconstruction of Gul Plaza and financial assistance of Rs500,000 for each shopkeeper affected by the recent tragic incident.

Delivering a policy statement in the Sindh Assembly, the chief minister said the Gul Plaza tragedy had saddened the entire country and stressed the need to take concrete measures to prevent such incidents in the future. He informed the house that a total of 88 people were initially reported missing, later revised to 82. So far, 67 bodies have been recovered, while 15 people are still missing. DNA sampling of 15 victims has been completed, while the process for 52 others is underway to ensure identification and handover of bodies to their families.

The chief minister said the fire broke out at 10:14pm at a shop on the ground floor of Gul Plaza, while the fire brigade received a call at 10:26pm. He added that a full inquiry into any negligence or shortcomings is underway and an FIR will be registered. He said Rescue 1122 received a call at 10:36pm and the Deputy Commissioner South reached the site within 16 minutes of the fire. He maintained that the tragedy should not be politicized and that all facts would be placed on record.

During his speech, a Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker objected to the chief minister’s statement, claiming the deputy commissioner had not reached the site on time. Responding, Murad Ali Shah said the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) had approved the lease of Gul Plaza, noting that its construction was completed in the 1980s and its lease was extended in 1991. He said approvals and irregularities dated back to periods before the 18th Constitutional Amendment.

The chief minister said the Sindh government would ensure accountability and that anyone found responsible, including government officials, would be punished. He recalled previous incidents in Karachi where traders were compensated and said a similar approach would be adopted in this case.

Murad Ali Shah announced that 1,102 shops registered with the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) would be compensated. Each shop owner would receive Rs500,000 in the first phase through the Karachi Chamber of Commerce. He added that affected traders would be provided alternative shops for business for two years and offered interest-free loans of up to Rs10 million, with the Sindh government bearing the markup.

He said Gul Plaza would be demolished and reconstructed in its original design, with efforts to complete the project within two years and hand over shops to traders. Temporary shops would be arranged within two months, while security for affected traders would be provided by the Sindh government.

The chief minister also emphasized the need for improved coordination among relevant institutions and announced plans to introduce legislation for an insurance system. He rejected calls for federal control over Karachi, saying the Constitution does not allow the federation to take over provincial authority.

After the speech, members of MQM and Jamaat-e-Islami stood up from their seats, prompting the Speaker to ask them to follow assembly rules and assure them they would be given time to speak.