Sindh CM announces relief, reconstruction and accountability plan after Gul Plaza fire

Staff Reporter

Karachi: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Monday announced a wide-ranging relief, rehabilitation and accountability package for victims of theGul Plaza fire, while firmly rejecting attempts to politicise the tragedy or link it to the18th Constitutional Amendment.

Addressing the Sindh Assembly, the chief minister offered prayers for those who lost their lives, expressed condolences to bereaved families and wished a swift recovery to the injured.

“This is a tragedy for which words are insufficient,” he said, adding that the loss of innocent lives had cast a pall of grief over the city.

Casualties and identification

Providing details to the House, Murad Ali Shah said 88 people were initially reported missing. After verification, one name was found to be mistakenly included and five were duplicated, leaving 82 confirmed missing individuals.

So far, 61 bodies have been recovered, while 15 persons remain untraced.

He informed lawmakers that DNA profiling of 45 bodies had been completed. Of these, 15 victims have so far been identified, while the remaining cases are under process.

Timeline of the incident

The chief minister presented a minute-by-minute account of the incident, stating that the fire broke out on January 17 at 10:14pm on the ground floor of Gul Plaza. The first emergency call was received at 10:26pm, and the first fire tender was dispatched a minute later.

He added that the Karachi commissioner and police officials reached the site within 16 minutes of the blaze.

Murad Ali Shah also criticised what he described as unnecessary visits by certain VIPs during rescue operations, saying such appearances, despite being advised against due to congestion and ongoing emergency work, created difficulties for responders and disrupted relief efforts.

‘Irregularities pre-date 18th Amendment’

Rejecting claims that the tragedy stemmed from devolution under the 18th Amendment, the chief minister traced the building’s history, stating that most structural irregularities were approved decades earlier.

He said Gul Plaza was originally sanctioned for a basement and two floors, with additional floors approved later. The plot, he disclosed, was first leased in 1884 for 99 years, expired in 1983, and was renewed in 1991. Building violations were regularised in 2003 — well before the 18th Amendment.

In a pointed remark, Murad Ali Shah said it was ironic that an individual who, as a mayor in the past, approved renewal of the lease on a backdated basis was now tabling a resolution against it. He described such conduct as political opportunism.

“Raising constitutional questions over dead bodies and using this tragedy for political purposes is a crime,” he told the House.

Relief and rehabilitation package

Announcing immediate relief measures, the chief minister said the Sindh government had approved compensation of Rs10 million for each deceased victim’s family and directed the Karachi commissioner to ensure swift disbursement after verification.

For affected traders, he announced Rs500,000 in immediate assistance per shop to help restore livelihoods.

He also revealed that alternative commercial spaces would be provided within two months. Two buildings with a total of 850 shops have been identified, and their owners have agreed to waive rent for one year, with efforts underway to extend the rent-free period to two years.

Additionally, each affected trader will be offered a Rs10 million interest-free loan through the Sindh Enterprise Development Fund, with the provincial government acting as guarantor and covering the markup.

Reconstruction and accountability

Murad Ali Shah announced that Gul Plaza would be demolished and reconstructed according to the Karachi Building Control Authority’s approved plan, with no increase in the number of shops. Reconstruction is expected to be completed within two years.

He also confirmed that FIRs would be registered and that those responsible would be brought to justice.

Citywide safety reforms

The chief minister told the Assembly that structural and fire safety audits of buildings across Karachi had begun, with more than 300 structures already inspected. Buildings lacking safety measures would be given a short compliance window, after which non-compliant premises would be sealed.

He further announced plans to place all emergency response agencies under a unified command structure, introduce mandatory building insurance laws and strengthen regulatory oversight to prevent future disasters.

Warning against hidden agendas

Concluding his address, Murad Ali Shah urged critics to hold the government accountable but warned against advancing “hidden agendas” during national tragedies.

“The Pakistan Peoples Party has always stood with the people in times of fire, floods and disasters — and it will continue to do so,” he said, reaffirming that justice for victims, relief for the affected and reforms to protect public safety would remain the government’s top priorities.