Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab said on Monday that a formal inquiry will be launched under the supervision of the mega city's commissioner into the devastating fire at the major commercial centre, Gul Plaza, that has claimed at least 26 lives so far.
Speaking on the Geo News current affairs programme "Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Ke Saath" on Monday, he announced comprehensive measures following the catastrophic fire at Gul Plaza, confirming that firefighting operations have been completed while rescue efforts continue at the commercial building.
Wahab detailed the ongoing situation at the inferno site, explaining that flames continue to reignite during the cooling process. "The firefighting operation has been completed, but fire flares up again again during the cooling process," he said, describing the challenges facing personnel of the emergency services.
Rescue teams are currently accessing the building from three separate entry points as they search for survivors and victims.
Wahab confirmed that authorities have received reports of 65 people missing, while 20 bodies have been identified thus far.
The Sindh government has announced compensation of Rs10 million for each family that has lost a loved one in the tragedy. "The families of the deceased will receive one crore rupees per person," Wahab stated.
An official inquiry will be launched under the supervision of the Karachi Commissioner, Wahab confirmed, adding that the probe will determine those responsible for the tragedy.
Meantime, a separate committee has been established to assess the financial losses suffered by traders and recommend appropriate compensation to the provincial government, he highlighted.
The committee includes representatives from the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sindh Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah, the Karachi Commissioner, and Wahab himself, he detailed.
"The committee will recommend to the government what appropriate compensation should be provided to the affected traders," he explained.
The government is also considering providing immediate alternative premises for the affected traders on an urgent basis, according to Wahab.
Wahab disclosed significant irregularities in the plaza's construction history, noting that the building plan was approved in 1998, but numerous violations occurred during construction.
The administration at the time regularised 1,021 shops, yet it has now emerged that Gul Plaza housed 1,200 shops, he said.
Defending recent safety drives by the present administration, the mayor revealed that following a previous fire incident on the Rashid Minhas Road, his administration had conducted fire safety audits across Karachi. "We conducted fire audits of more than 600 buildings in the metropolis and submitted reports," he said.
However, Wahab remarked that enforcement efforts have faced resistance. "When we take action, accusations are levelled against us," he said, hinting at the challenges faced by authorities attempting to implement safety regulations.
The committee led by the Commissioner will investigate the incident and identify those responsible for the lapses that led to this tragedy.
As rescue operations continue, the full scale of the disaster remains unclear, with dozens still unaccounted for in one of Karachi's deadliest building fires in recent years.
The Karachi mayor later, in Tuesday’s wee hours, arrived at the conflagration site and talking to the media, pledged that rescue efforts will continue around the clock until all missing persons are located, as emergency teams work to clear debris from the building's basement and upper floors.
He confirmed that rescue teams have now entered the basement while work continues to remove vehicles and motorcycles from the rooftop. "Our institutions are present for rescue operations," Wahab said, adding that all departments of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation remain on high alert.
He disclosed that 80 people are currently reported missing, with the search process underway. "The rescue operation will continue until all missing persons are found," the mayor stated.
Rescue teams are engaged in operations to remove debris including basement clearance, said Wahab, directing the Senior Director of Municipal Services to increase machinery and resources for the rescue efforts.
He said the building still contains traders' goods which will be recovered during the ongoing operation, assuring also that affected families will receive all possible assistance from the authorities.
The mayor also pointed out that the inquiry would examine why additional shops were constructed beyond the approved number.
All findings of the inquiry would be presented in a report to the Chief Minister, he added, stressing, "Wherever there has been negligence or shortcomings, it will appear in the report," the mayor stated.
