massive fire that spread through Islamabad’s largest weekly market last week reduced hundreds of stalls to ashes within hours, once again raising serious questions about safety arrangements, emergency preparedness and market management at the capital’s busiest Sunday Bazaar.

Thousands of people from across Islamabad visit the sprawling H-9 Bazaar, which operates three days a week: Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. The market is considered one of the largest public shopping facilities in the federal capital, with around 2,800 stalls catering to low and middle-income families.

According to district administration officials, the fire erupted late at night in the garments and footwear section of the market last Tuesday. It spread rapidly through the densely packed stalls. The administration estimates that more than 500 stalls and shops were affected. Nine sections of the market were engulfed by the blaze.

Videos circulating on social media showed desperate shopkeepers attempting to extinguish the flames using buckets and rubber pipes before firefighters arrived. Thick black smoke billowed into the sky and was visible from several parts of Islamabad as the fire quickly consumed large sections of the market.

The incident occurred during the visit of the Iranian president to Islamabad, when heightened security measures had led to the closure of several roads across the city. Traders and witnesses said that only one fire brigade vehicle initially managed to reach the site. It proved insufficient to tackle the rapidly spreading blaze. Additional firefighting vehicles and emergency teams were later summoned, including assistance from neighbouring Rawalpindi.

“We lost everything. Our two shoe stalls have been completely destroyed,” said trader Lala Khan. “We pay substantial rent every month, yet there are no adequate safety arrangements in the capital’s biggest market.”

Another trader, Muhmand Khan, estimated his losses in millions of rupees and demanded compensation from the government. “There must be a proper mechanism and effective safety measures to prevent such incidents, which continue to occur repeatedly,” he said.

The cause of the fire had not been determined at the time of filing this report. More than two dozen fire tenders and dozens of firefighters participated in the operation to bring the blaze under control.

The latest blaze is not an isolated incident. In fact, it is the fourth major fire at the H-9 Sunday Bazaar in three years and the fifth major incident in seven years.

The Islamabad district administration has constituted an inquiry committee to investigate the incident.

“The fire was brought under control and there was no loss of life. A committee has been formed to investigate the incident,” a spokesperson for the Islamabad Deputy Commissioner’s Office said.

According to officials, the committee will examine the response time of emergency services, determine the cause of the fire and the factors that contributed to its spread; assess the extent of the losses; and recommend measures to ensure the safe operation of unaffected sections of the market.

The committee comprises representatives of the district administration, Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad, Capital Development Authority, police, Rescue 1122 and Civil Defence.

Regular visitors to the market have questioned the lack of basic fire safety measures.

“It is very disturbing for both traders and their customers,” said Ahmad Ali, who frequently shops at the bazaar. “Most stalls are temporary structures made of highly flammable materials, yet there are hardly any visible fire safety arrangements.”

He noted that fire extinguishers are rarely seen in the market despite repeated fire incidents over the years.

“The government recently introduced digital payment systems and encouraged cashless transactions at the bazaar, but little attention appears to have been paid to improving safety infrastructure,” he added.

The latest blaze is not an isolated incident. In fact, it is the fourth major fire at the H-9 Sunday Bazaar in three years and the fifth major incident in seven years.

In 2017, a massive fire in Block C had destroyed around 550 stalls, mainly dealing in garments and household items. A year later, more than 110 stalls in Blocks E and F were gutted in another fire. In 2019, nearly 300 stalls in Blocks D, E and H were damaged. More than 100 stalls were destroyed in a blaze in 2022. In July 2024, another major fire reduced approximately 625 stalls to ashes, causing substantial financial losses to traders.

With fires repeatedly ravaging one of Islamabad’s busiest public markets, traders and visitors alike are questioning why effective preventive measures, modern firefighting systems and stricter safety regulations are missing after years of warnings and repeated losses.

The author is a staff reporter. He can be reached at [email protected].