The Municipal Commissioner of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has submitted a report to the Judicial Commission investigating the tragic fire at Gul Plaza, located on M.A. Jinnah Road, which occurred on the night of January 17 this year. The report addressed the status of the land on which Gul Plaza stands.
the report, based on records from the Director Land, the status of the plot has remained unchanged since it came under the control of the KMC. The Municipal Commissioner emphasized that the report was prepared after a thorough review of land department records, clarifying that no approval for a change in land status or usage had been granted.
The Judicial Commission had previously inquired about any possible approval for altering the land’s status despite the presence of the Senior Director Land and the Municipal Commissioner during hearings. This clarification was sought to determine if any regulatory lapses contributed to the fire incident.
Meanwhile, the commission has also issued a notice to the Director General of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), requesting a legal clarification regarding the enforcement of building regulations. The SBCA has been directed to submit a report identifying which institution holds legal responsibility for ensuring compliance with the Karachi Building and Town Planning Regulations.
Furthermore, the commission has asked the SBCA to provide references to relevant legal provisions and a detailed explanation of its role in implementing and monitoring the Karachi Building and Town Planning Regulations 2002. Clarification is also sought in light of the Sindh Building Control Ordinance 1979 and other applicable rules. All responses and supporting documents must be submitted to the commission’s secretariat by April 1, 2026.
Earlier, the SBCA had submitted a written response stating that the initial building plan for Gul Plaza was approved by the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) in August 1979. The building plan underwent review and regularization in 1998 and again in 2003. However, the Director General of SBCA informed the commission that the original file and initial records are missing from the record room, which complicates verification of the originally approved structure and its intended use.
The SBCA noted that the revised building plan included a basement, ground floor, and three upper floors, which received approval from the Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA). It also stated that 1,043 shops were approved in 1998, and under an amnesty scheme in 2003, 1,102 shops were regularized.
This inquiry follows the devastating fire that engulfed Gul Plaza on January 17, lasting more than 32 hours and causing numerous fatalities. The tragedy highlighted serious deficiencies in Karachi’s emergency response capabilities and raised critical questions about building safety standards and the enforcement of regulations.
