KARACHI: Sindh Minister for Local Government Syed Nasir Hussain Shah on Friday visited Bagh-e- Jinnah along with Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab to review rehabilitation measures and temporary business arrangements for the affectees of the Gul Plaza tragedy.
Officials said that during the visit, officials briefed the delegation at Baradari on the establishment of temporary stalls and provision of facilities for the displaced traders. The provincial minister said the Sindh government had taken emergency steps to provide immediate relief to the affected shopkeepers and had offered free alternative spaces at different locations across the city to enable them to resume business without delay.
He announced that, with the approval of the chief minister, the process of disbursing compensation of up to Rs7 billion had been initiated, while interim financial assistance of up to Rs500,000 per month was also being provided to the affected traders.
Shah said the arrangements for temporary stalls, ground facilities, parking and security had been ensured and would remain in place until the completion of permanent reconstruction. He added that special teams had been constituted to enforce fire safety measures in plazas and markets, directing owners to ensure the availability of fire extinguishers, clearance of emergency exits and strict compliance with safety protocols, warning that responsibility for any negligence would rest with the concerned management and owners.
Mayor Murtaza Wahab said that keeping in view Ramazan, around 350 affected shopkeepers would be handed over stalls in the first phase to ensure uninterrupted commercial activity. He said parking, basement facilities, security arrangements and deployment of police and wardens had been finalized, while registration of traders had been completed in collaboration with the Karachi Chamber of Commerce to ensure transparency and fairness.
The mayor added that the final plan had been prepared in consultation with provincial ministers and the commissioner Karachi, and additional land was available if more stalls were required.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment, the provincial minister said Gul Plaza would be reconstructed in accordance with modern standards and fire safety requirements after full compensation and temporary rehabilitation were completed, adding that the government would stand by the affected traders until their complete restoration.
