The Sindh government has established a three-member ministerial committee tasked with overseeing the execution of recommendations arising from the judicial inquiry into the Gul Plaza incident. The committee will be chaired by Provincial Interior and Law Minister Zia Lanjar, with Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah and Minister for Industries and Commerce Ikramullah Dharejo as members. Additional Chief Secretary Interior Iqbal Memon will act as the committee’s secretary.
The judicial commission’s report on the Gul Plaza tragedy pinpointed several institutions responsible for negligence. Notably, the district administration was criticized for its lack of proactive involvement during the incident. The report also expressed serious concerns over the failure to implement a fire safety review scheduled for 2023. Despite having adequate resources, the fire brigade’s response was deemed ineffective; although fire tenders arrived at the scene, smoke ejectors were not utilized. Furthermore, emergency service Rescue 1122 reportedly reached the site late.
In addition, the report highlighted shortcomings by Civil Defence, which did not fulfill its duties, and the Water and Sewerage Corporation, which failed to supply water to firefighting teams in a timely manner. On the day of the fire, water supply to firefighting units was reportedly unavailable. The inquiry also revealed a lack of an efficient communication system among the involved agencies.
Earlier findings indicated that a fire safety inspection of Gul Plaza, due in 2023, was not conducted. The building’s management was also criticized for inadequate fire safety measures, contributing to the severity of the incident.
