KARACHI — Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has committed to the reconstruction of Gul Plaza, weeks after a massive fire gutted the commercial hub and left hundreds of small traders in financial ruin.
The chief minister visited the site Tuesday, meeting with a delegation of affected shopkeepers who have been demanding government intervention since the incident. Standing amid the charred remains of the building, Shah promised that the provincial administration wouldn’t abandon the business community during their recovery.
“We recognize the scale of this loss,” Shah told the traders. “The government will facilitate the reconstruction process to ensure these people can return to work as soon as possible.”
The fire, which broke out last month, destroyed over 200 shops and caused losses estimated in the billions. Preliminary investigations pointed toward a short circuit, though the final forensic report is still pending. For many traders, the plaza wasn’t just a building; it was their primary source of income, and the weeks following the blaze have been marked by uncertainty and mounting debt.
Traders have expressed skepticism about the timeline, citing past promises that failed to materialize. Shah attempted to address those concerns by directing the local administration to clear the debris immediately and finalize a structural integrity report.
While the CM’s pledge offers a path forward, the path to reconstruction remains complex. The building’s management and the shopkeepers are currently at odds over insurance claims and the cost-sharing model for the rebuilding project. Without a clear financial roadmap or a firm deadline, the promise of a new plaza remains, for now, just a verbal commitment.
The provincial government is expected to present a formal rehabilitation plan in the upcoming cabinet session. For the merchants of Gul Plaza, the test will be how quickly the heavy machinery arrives on-site to begin the cleanup.
