The fire that tore through Gul Plaza in Karachi over the weekend was not merely an accident; it was a foreseeable disaster waiting to happen. As flames engulfed the multi-storey commercial building in the heart of Saddar, claiming at least 21 precious lives and leaving scores missing or injured, the city once again confronted a painful truth: Karachi is dangerously unprepared to protect its people from large-scale urban fires. The tragedy has shocked the nation, but for many residents of this city, it has also revived a familiar sense of anger, grief, and déjà vu.

Gul Plaza was not an obscure or unused structure. It was a bustling commercial hub, packed with shops selling garments, plastic goods, cosmetics, and other highly flammable materials. Workers, shopkeepers, and customers went about their daily routines under the assumption that the building they occupied was safe. That assumption proved fatal. Early reports suggest the fire may have been triggered by an electrical fault, but what turned a spark into a deadly inferno was a combination of poor building design, lack of fire safety mechanisms, and weak enforcement of existing regulations.

As the blaze spread rapidly, thick smoke filled the building’s narrow corridors. Exits were reportedly limited, poorly marked, or blocked. Fire alarms and sprinkler systems, if present at all, failed to function effectively. Many inside were trapped, with little chance of escape. Firefighters battled the flames for hours, hampered by congestion, limited access, and the sheer intensity of the fire. By the time the blaze was brought under control, the damage had been done.

This is not the first time........

© The Friday Times