Sindh CM vows Gul Plaza rebuild in 2 years, rejects 18th Amendment blame

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said the province is still untangling regulatory and governance issues that existed long before the 18th Amendment, as he pushed back against calls to place Karachi under federal control following the Gul Plaza fire.

Speaking in the Sindh Assembly, he said the tragedy was being turned into a political fight and argued that linking the incident to the 18th Amendment was misplaced. He said he was responding to criticism without questioning anyone’s intent, but warned against using the loss of life to score points.

He outlined the plaza’s development history, saying the initial application for construction dates back to 1979, with key documentation and approvals following in the 1980s. He said the lease was completed in 1983 and later renewed in 1991, and he described subsequent applications and regularisation steps in 1998 and 2003—maintaining these decisions happened prior to the 18th Amendment.

During the same address, he cited updated casualty information, saying the death toll from the January 17 blaze had reached 71, as reported by Police Surgeon Dr Samia Syed.

Announcing relief and recovery measures, the chief minister said the remaining portion of the plaza would be demolished and the site rebuilt, with the goal of restoring shops within two years. He promised shop owners would receive the same number of units after reconstruction.

He also announced financial support, including Rs10 million for each family that lost a loved one and immediate assistance of Rs500,000 per affected shopkeeper. As an interim arrangement, he said 850 shops had been arranged across two buildings—500 in one and 350 in another—where owners have agreed to waive rent for a year. He added the provincial government would provide collateral to help affected traders secure loans of up to Rs10 million, with the government covering interest costs.