The business community in Karachi has announced a three-day mourning period following the devastating Gul Plaza fire, which caused massive human and financial losses and left hundreds of families affected.
Traders have expressed deep grief over the tragedy and demanded immediate relief, accountability, and reconstruction of the businesses affected.
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The announcement was made by Javed Qureshi, President of the All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran Sindh (APATS), who said the mourning period would be observed to honour the victims of the fire and express solidarity with affected traders and families.
He described the incident as one of the worst commercial tragedies in Karachi’s recent history.
READ: Karachi Gul Plaza Fire: Live Updates
Qureshi appealed to both the federal and provincial governments to show generosity and compassion in responding to the losses suffered by traders and victims’ families.
He also expressed sorrow over the death of a firefighter, who lost his life while performing rescue and firefighting duties during the operation.
Meanwhile, business community leader Jamil Paracha strongly criticised the authorities and demanded direct intervention by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.
Read: Traffic Plan announced after devastating Gul Plaza Fire in Karachi
He urged the government to provide compensation and relief to traders who lost their livelihoods and to families who lost loved ones in the blaze.
Paracha said that around 1,200 shops were destroyed, affecting the livelihoods of nearly 5,000 families who depended on businesses operating inside Gul Plaza.
He stated that the fire had caused losses worth billions of rupees, although a formal damage assessment is yet to be completed.
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The business leader also demanded the formation of an independent and impartial inquiry committee to investigate the cause of the fire and determine responsibility.
He called for the reconstruction of Gul Plaza, stressing that traders should not be abandoned after suffering such a massive loss.
Criticising the emergency response, Paracha claimed that fire brigade vehicles arrived nearly an hour after the building was engulfed in flames, which worsened the situation.
He questioned how the loss of precious human lives would be compensated and criticised the Chief Minister’s visit to the site, which he said took place 21 hours after the incident.
As rescue and relief operations continue, the business community has urged authorities to take concrete steps to prevent such tragedies in the future, improve emergency response systems, and ensure fire safety in commercial buildings across Karachi.
