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Updated 21 January 2026 - Rescue efforts continue as the death toll rises in the aftermath of a devastating fire at Gul Plaza in Karachi, Pakistan.
Families plead for answers as death toll climbs
Muhammed Amin stands outside the charred remains of Gul Plaza, his voice trembling as he grapples with the disappearance of his brother, Naveed Memon. "What should I tell my mother when I go home? What should I tell my nieces?" he asks, his nieces inconsolable, demanding to know why their father hasn't returned. Like Amin, dozens of families are still searching for loved ones trapped inside the collapsed shopping centre.
The confirmed death toll has reached 27, but over 70 people remain unaccounted for. Rescue teams are struggling to navigate the unstable structure, which continues to smoulder and risks total collapse. Dr. Abid Jalaluddin Sheikh, a senior rescue official, told BBC Urdu that many bodies are unrecognisable, requiring forensic analysis to confirm the final death count.
A disaster exacerbated by safety failures
Gul Plaza, a bustling wholesale market in Karachi's commercial heart, housed around 1,200 shops across four levels, selling everything from wedding attire to baby clothes. The fire's origin remains unknown, but witnesses describe a catastrophe worsened by locked exits, overcrowding, and a lack of fire safety measures.
Rehan Faisal, a bedsheet shop owner, escaped by breaking down a door near his stall. "No one knew it would spread so fast," he said. "Within five to seven minutes, everything was engulfed." Shoiab, a 19-year-old worker at a decorations shop, recalled the chaos: "Smoke filled the air, and people were running in every direction. The first exit I tried was locked, and the crowds were too dense to turn back."
Senior police official Syed Asad Raza confirmed that only three of the building's 16 exits were unlocked when the fire broke out. Most gates had been secured ahead of closing time, trapping shoppers and staff inside.
Delayed response fuels public outrage
Anger is mounting over the perceived sluggish emergency response. Protesters gathered outside the site on Monday, demanding accountability. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab faced jeers when he arrived nearly 24 hours after the blaze began.
Muhammed Arif, whose nephew is missing, accused authorities of failing to act swiftly. "Precious lives could have been saved," he said. Faisal echoed the sentiment, noting that ambulances arrived before firefighters, despite no immediate need for medical aid.
Reuters reported that the first emergency call was logged at 22:38 local time (17:00 GMT) on Saturday, by which point the fire had already spread to upper floors. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has pledged an investigation into the response time.
Political fallout and calls for reform
Lawmakers across Pakistan's political spectrum have condemned the tragedy, urging sweeping reforms in building safety and urban governance. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered condolences and vowed action, though families at the site remain unconvinced.
"This is the third major fire in Saddar in recent years," Arif said. "How many more must die before something changes?"
Desperate wait for news
Muhammad Qaiser, whose wife, sister, and daughter-in-law are missing, described the agony of being sent between hospitals and the morgue. "We don't know what happened to them," he said. Haroon, who lost one brother in the fire, recounted his sibling's frantic calls for help-calls that went unanswered.
Shoaib, who survived the blaze, refuses to leave the site without his cousin, Faizan. "Every morning, we went to work together," he said. "I can't go home without him."
