CM Murad says Sindh government was working to improve the city’s infrastructure
KARACHI: (UrduPoint/Pakistan Point News-Jan 26th, 2026) Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Monday announced that shops for the victims of the Gul Plaza tragedy will be rebuilt and handed over within two months while the provincial government will provide financial assistance to affected families and traders.
Speaking to the media in Karachi, the chief minister said the Sindh government was working to improve the city’s infrastructure, adding that construction of the Shaheed Bhutto Expressway up to the M-9 motorway would begin after Eid.
He acknowledged a slight delay in the project and said it would significantly ease traffic congestion, as around 50,000 commuters are expected to use the route daily.
Turning to the Gul Plaza incident, Murad Ali Shah said no compensation could truly make up for the loss of lives, but the government stood firmly with the affected families. He announced that Rs10 million would be given to the family of each deceased victim.
The chief minister further said the government would construct a new building at the Gul Plaza site and provide Rs500,000 to each shopkeeper to help meet household expenses for two months. He added that the Sindh government, in collaboration with the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, had begun efforts to assess and cover business losses, including compensation for goods destroyed in the shops.
Murad Ali Shah said that until the new plaza is completed, shopkeepers will receive monthly financial support, and within two months, they will be provided with rebuilt shops so they can resume their businesses.
He also announced that through the Sindh Investment Department, each shop will be eligible for a Rs10 million loan, with the provincial government bearing the interest.
He stressed that the rebuilt plaza would not exceed the original number or size of shops, and traders would be involved in the reconstruction process.
The chief minister confirmed that a case had been registered into the Gul Plaza incident, which claimed more than 80 lives. He vowed that those responsible would be held accountable, admitting there had been shortcomings.
Murad Ali Shah said building safety audits would be carried out across the province, adding that after surveys, building owners would be given a one-week deadline to address safety requirements.
The structures failing to comply would be sealed, with no compromise on enforcement, he added.
