A devastating fire that tore through a multi-storey shopping centre in Karachi, Pakistan, has claimed the lives of six people and left at least 20 others injured. The blaze, which erupted on Saturday night, raged uncontrollably for more than 12 hours, with firefighters struggling to contain the inferno.
A Night of Flames and Rescue Efforts
The fire broke out at around 10pm local time on Saturday, 17 January 2026, at Gul Plaza on MA Jinnah Road in Karachi. The timing meant many shop owners were closing for the day, with some having already departed. Police officer Mohsin Raza indicated that officials suspect the fire began due to a short circuit in ground-floor shops, though a formal investigation will commence once the flames are fully extinguished.
Dramatic television footage captured thick columns of black smoke pouring from the building as emergency services arrived. Firefighters in protective gear deployed ladders, water cannons, and hoses to tackle flames shooting from windows and balconies. By Sunday morning, after an all-night battle, only about 30 per cent of the fire had been brought under control, according to Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassaanul Haseeb Khan.
Intensity Fuelled by Combustible Goods
The scale and speed of the fire were exacerbated by the contents of the mall. Gul Plaza houses approximately 1,200 shops selling a wide range of items, including clothing, electrical appliances, cosmetics, and perfumes. Authorities reported that the fire spread rapidly after it erupted in an area where shopkeepers had stored large quantities of imported garments, clothing, and plastic household goods, creating a highly combustible environment.
Around 20 fire tenders from various agencies were deployed to the scene. As operations continued into Sunday, crowds of local residents gathered to watch, while anxious family members waited nearby for news.
A Pattern of Tragic Fire Incidents
This tragedy highlights a recurring issue of fire safety in South Asia, where many structures lack adequate prevention and firefighting systems, often leading to severe damage and loss of life. Karachi, the capital of Sindh province, has seen several such incidents.
The shopping mall fire follows a separate blaze just a day earlier at the Karachi Port Trust, which destroyed at least 20 containers, most carrying electrical batteries. Furthermore, in November last year, an explosion at a glue factory in Faisalabad killed at least 18 workers and injured 21, underscoring ongoing safety concerns in commercial and industrial settings across Pakistan.
Police have stated that a full investigation into the cause of the Gul Plaza fire will be launched once the emergency response is complete.
