Sindh CM announces Rs10m aid, pledges Gul Plaza rebuild after deadly fire

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah announced Rs10 million in compensation for each family that lost a loved one in the Gul Plaza fire in Karachi and said the damaged building would be rebuilt.

Speaking during a meeting with provincial ministers, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab and other officials, the chief minister said a dedicated committee would recommend immediate steps to help affected traders secure shops so businesses can restart quickly.

Officials briefed the CM that the multi-storey blaze began late Saturday, burned for more than a day and led to parts of the structure collapsing, with thick smoke slowing rescue efforts. Authorities said at least 15 bodies had been recovered, including several beyond identification, and a government help desk recorded dozens missing.

Shah also announced compensation for families of firefighters who died battling the blaze, and ordered a fact-finding committee to investigate the cause of the fire. He directed debris clearance to start immediately and called for a forensic examination.

The CM said political leadership had remained in contact to push for urgent relief, while officials shared operational details of the response, including water supply arrangements and the scale of firefighting resources deployed. Firefighters reported that poor ventilation hampered search efforts and that openings had to be cut to reach trapped areas.