At least six killed in Pakistan as fire rips through Karachi shopping mall
A massive fire tore through a busy shopping mall in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi, killing at least six people and injuring around 20 others.
The fire erupted on Saturday at Gul Plaza, a crowded multi-storey commercial complex in the city’s Garden area. Flames spread rapidly through the building, which houses an estimated 1,200 shops, many stocked with flammable goods. By early Sunday, fire officials said only about 30 percent of the inferno had been brought under control.
Authorities initially confirmed three deaths, but the toll rose steadily as rescue teams recovered bodies from the building. The Edhi Foundation later confirmed a sixth fatality and said several injured people were in critical condition. Rescue workers reported that parts of the structure collapsed due to the intensity of the fire, severely hampering search and evacuation operations.
Police said preliminary evidence pointed to an electrical short circuit in one of the shops as the likely cause, though a full investigation has been ordered to determine responsibility and assess building safety violations. Officials warned the weakened structure must be secured before further rescue work can proceed.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life. Sharif directed authorities to ensure medical treatment for the injured, assist affected traders and strengthen fire safety enforcement to prevent similar tragedies.
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