Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said the Gul Plaza fire tragedy exposed serious failures in urban governance and highlighted the urgent need for an empowered local government system across Pakistan.
Speaking in the National Assembly during a discussion on the Karachi fire incident, Khawaja Asif said no words were sufficient to describe the pain caused by the loss of precious human lives.
He said managing a mega city like Karachi had become “humanly impossible” without devolved authority and effective governance at the grassroots level, particularly amid recurring fatal incidents.
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The defence minister noted that repeated fires, including the deadly Gul Plaza blaze, along with frequent dumper accidents, reflected deep flaws in the existing administrative system.
“I am not blaming individuals, I am blaming the system,” Khawaja Asif told lawmakers, stressing that the concentration of power at provincial capitals had weakened governance.
He said that despite the passage of the 18th Constitutional Amendment, authority had not been transferred to districts, towns and neighbourhoods in its true spirit.
READ: Gul Plaza Fire: Families cling to hope as search continues for missing victims
Khawaja Asif stated that empowering citizens required a strong, functional and autonomous local government structure capable of responding swiftly to emergencies.
“If there is no empowered local government, there will be no effective fire brigade, no timely emergency response and no accountability at the neighbourhood level,” he warned.
Referring specifically to the Gul Plaza fire, he said the absence of a coordinated local system forced institutions to respond in an unplanned manner.
READ: Karachi Gul Plaza Fire, Live Updates
He added that multiple departments, including defence and aviation fire units, were compelled to intervene due to the lack of a unified emergency response mechanism.
The defence minister urged members from both sides of the House to recognise that tragedies like the Karachi fire demanded serious structural reforms.
He called for meaningful transfer of power from provincial capitals to districts, tehsils and local councils to improve accountability and service delivery.
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Khawaja Asif warned that unless Pakistan’s 250 million citizens were empowered at the grassroots level, parliamentary representation would lose its relevance.
Calling the situation a wake-up call, he urged parliament to initiate serious reflection and introduce constitutional reforms to strengthen local governments.
He concluded by saying that effective local governance was essential to prevent future tragedies and protect lives in densely populated urban centres.
