The provincial inquiry commission has officially held building management and local fire safety regulators accountable for the fire at Karachi’s Gul Plaza, citing a “complete failure” of emergency systems. The report, submitted to the Sindh High Court, concludes that the blaze could have been contained within minutes if the building’s fire suppression infrastructure had been functional.
Instead, the fire spread through the multi-story commercial hub, trapping shoppers and causing significant structural damage. Investigators found that the plaza’s fire hydrants were dry, the emergency exits were permanently bolted shut, and the building lacked a valid fire safety certificate — a violation that had persisted for years despite periodic inspections.
“The disaster was not a matter of chance; it was a consequence of systemic indifference,” said one senior official involved in the probe. The commission’s findings point directly to the building’s administration for prioritizing rental income over basic safety protocols, while also reprimanding the municipal fire department for failing to enforce compliance despite prior warnings.
For the thousands who visit the market daily, the report confirms a long-held fear: the city’s commercial centers are often death traps hidden in plain sight. The inquiry highlights that the plaza’s electrical wiring was grossly outdated, sparking the initial flame that ignited heaps of flammable material stored in unauthorized corridors.
The commission has recommended the immediate registration of criminal cases against the plaza’s management committee and the suspension of three municipal officers responsible for oversight. It further proposed a mandatory safety audit for all high-rise commercial buildings in the city, with the power to seal any premises that fail to meet minimum fire-code standards by the end of the month.
Whether these recommendations will trigger a city-wide safety crackdown remains the primary question. For now, the victims’ families are demanding that the findings lead to more than just paperwork — they want the individuals who ignored the safety alerts held criminally liable for the lives lost.
