Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has announced financial assistance of Rs. 10 million for the families of those who lost their lives in the Gul Plaza fire tragedy.
Addressing a press conference over the tragic fire incident at Gul Plaza, the chief minister said a special committee has been formed for the rehabilitation of affected people, while the Karachi Commissioner has been directed to assess the losses at the earliest.
He stated that comprehensive planning is being carried out to prevent such incidents in the future, and efforts will be made to help those whose businesses were completely destroyed to stand back on their feet.
Murad Ali Shah announced that Rs. 10 million compensation per deceased person will be provided, and the disbursement of funds will begin from tomorrow.
He added that provincial ministers will visit the homes of the deceased to offer condolences, while the recovery of missing persons remains the government’s top priority. He further said that a request has been made to a forensic institution in Lahore to conduct forensic investigations.
According to the chief minister, around 40 percent of Gul Plaza has been completely destroyed, while the remaining structure is also unsafe; therefore, the entire building will have to be demolished.
He said the plaza had nearly 1,200 shops, and affected shopkeepers will be relocated to alternative locations. He also admitted that mistakes were made, but emphasized that standing with the victims is the most important responsibility at this time.
The chief minister said the exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined, though preliminary suspicion suggests it may have been caused by a short circuit. So far, 20 bodies have been recovered from the site, while more than 65 people are still missing.
He also confirmed that a firefighter, Muhammad Furqan, was martyred during the operation, and orders have been issued for the welfare and care of his family.
Murad Ali Shah stated that 26 fire brigade vehicles, 10 water bowsers, and four snorkels were deployed to control the blaze, with 100 firefighters each from KMC and Rescue 1122 taking part in the operation. Firefighters entered the building from three different points.
Provincial ministers Saeed Ghani, Murtaza Wahab, and Abdullah Murad also visited the site, while the Navy and Karachi Port Trust assisted in firefighting efforts.
The chief minister concluded that the loss of life is significant, but it is too early to give a final figure. He added that no evidence of sabotage has been found so far.
