CM Murad says Gul Plaza tragedy has deeply saddened entire Pakistan, and he wants to reassure this house that they must take necessary steps to prevent such incidents in future
KARACHI: (UrduPoint/Pakistan Point News-Jan 23rd, 2026) Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Friday pledged Rs500,000 compensation for each shopkeeper in the first phase of relief efforts following the devastating fire at Gul Plaza.
The Sindh CM also announced plans to fully reconstruct the building and provide long-term support for the affected traders.
Addressing the Sindh Assembly, CM Murad Ali Shah expressed his condolences over the tragic incident, stating, “The Gul Plaza tragedy has deeply saddened the entire country. I want to reassure this house that we must take necessary steps to prevent such incidents in the future.”
The fire, which broke out at 10:14am on the ground floor of one of the shops, has claimed multiple lives, with 88 people initially reported missing. However, some of these were duplicates, and the confirmed number of missing persons stands at 82. As of now, 67 bodies have been recovered, and DNA tests are ongoing for 15 individuals, with 52 more undergoing DNA processing. The Chief Minister confirmed that once the bodies are identified, they will be handed over to the families.
In response to the incident, Murad Ali Shah assured the assembly that a thorough investigation would be conducted into the cause of the fire, with a focus on any negligence by authorities. “If there was any failure on the part of government departments, they will be held accountable,” he added.
The CM also confirmed that a case would be filed against those responsible for the tragedy.
The Sindh CM elaborated on the timeline of events, noting that the fire broke out at 10:14am, the fire brigade was called at 10:26am, and a government representative reached the scene at 10:36 am. "I do not doubt anyone’s intentions, but there should be no room for political exploitation of such a tragedy," he said.
CM Murad also provided a historical context of the Gul Plaza building, stating that its lease was initially approved by Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) in the 1980s and renewed in 1991.
“We are still addressing the issues from before the 18th Amendment,” he noted. The CM mentioned discrepancies in the building's official documents, particularly concerning its exits and structure, which were not in line with the original approval.
In terms of relief, CM Murad announced that the Sindh government would fully compensate the affected traders.
“A total of 1,102 shops in Gul Plaza were registered with the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA). In the first phase, each shopkeeper will receive Rs 500,000, distributed through the Karachi Chamber of Commerce,” he said.
The CM further pledged that traders would be provided with temporary shops for up to two years, during which they would also receive government-backed loans of up to Rs 10 million, with the Sindh government covering the interest.
Regarding the future of the building, CM Murad confirmed that Gul Plaza would be demolished and rebuilt within two years.
“We will ensure that new shops are ready for the traders within this period,” he said, emphasizing that temporary arrangements would be made for the affected individuals in the meantime.
CM Murad also discussed the lack of an insurance system in the country, revealing that he had spoken with the Federal Minister of Commerce to initiate legislation for insurance coverage.
“We will not shy away from admitting mistakes, but we will not allow hidden agendas to hijack this process,” he added.
In closing, CM Murad reiterated his commitment to rectifying the situation, saying, “We will address the mess left by previous administrations, and ensure that such incidents are prevented in the future.”
Following his speech, members of MQM and Jamaat-e-Islami rose from their seats in protest. The National Assembly speaker intervened, and reminded them of to adhere to the rules of procedure.
