Fire incidents in Pakistan have repeatedly resulted in tragic loss of life, with investigations and accountability often falling short. Despite inquiries following major disasters, responsibility is rarely assigned, lessons remain unheeded, and systemic reforms are seldom implemented.
The devastating deaths of 14 newborns at the PIMS neonatal ward underscore critical failures in institutional management and emergency readiness, as infants under intensive care were unable to escape a fire at a leading federal healthcare facility.
Here is a chronological outline of some of the country’s most significant fire-related tragedies from 2016 through 2026:
In November 2016, the Ashraf Garment Factory in Lahore was engulfed by fire, killing at least three workers. The blaze was initially linked to a short circuit, and it was revealed that the factory lacked proper emergency exits. Authorities arrested the factory owner for violating building regulations, sealed the premises upon the Punjab labour minister’s orders, and launched an inquiry. Families of the deceased were awarded Rs900,000 in compensation.
On December 5, 2016, a fire at Karachi’s Regent Plaza Hotel claimed 12 lives and injured over 75 people. Originating in the kitchen, the fire rapidly spread throughout the building. Investigations uncovered severe deficiencies in fire safety measures, including malfunctioning alarms, inadequate emergency protocols, and delayed emergency response notification. An FIR was registered against the hotel’s owners and senior staff, with five individuals charged with manslaughter due to negligence. The final report highlighted that the fire safety system was outdated and nonfunctional.
June 25, 2017, witnessed one of Pakistan’s deadliest fire disasters when an overturned oil tanker caught fire near Bahawalpur, killing at least 200 people and injuring over 100. The tanker spilled petrol on the Karachi-Lahore road, and the fire ignited as people gathered to collect the leaked fuel. This incident sparked renewed discussions on hazardous material transport, road safety, and emergency response. Authorities initiated investigations and announced victim compensation.
On August 24, 2017, a fire devastated Islamabad’s H-9 Sunday Bazaar, destroying at least 550 stalls and damaging 98 more, along with a shoe market. The bazaar experienced additional major fires in the following two years.
September 20, 2017, saw a deadly explosion at a cosmetics factory in Karachi’s Nursery area, killing one person. The blast was attributed to chemicals stored inside the facility.
In Lahore, a shoe factory fire on March 17, 2018, resulted in the death of a watchman and injuries to five others. The cause remained undetermined, and although rescue teams extinguished the fire, the investigation report was not released publicly.
On May 11, 2018, a gas leak triggered an explosion at Hotel Afandi in Peshawar, killing six members of a family and injuring two others. The fire spread through multiple floors. Authorities ruled out terrorism or explosive devices after thorough examinations.
October 31, 2019, brought tragedy to the Tezgam Express near Rahim Yar Khan, where a fire engulfed three carriages, killing at least 75 people and injuring over 40. Initially blamed on passengers carrying gas cylinders, subsequent inquiries revealed a short circuit in the train’s electrical wiring as the true cause.
In January 2020, a fire in the children’s ward of Karachi’s National Institute of Child Health claimed the life of a newborn. The fire was reportedly caused by an electrical short circuit. Hospital staff and firefighters successfully extinguished the blaze, but the inquiry findings were not disclosed.
July 2020 saw a fire at Karachi’s Landhi Export Processing Zone, starting in a cardboard factory and spreading to nearby cloth and plastic factories. No casualties were reported as authorities evacuated the area and firefighters controlled the blaze after several hours.
On September 12, 2020, a fire consumed a three-storey residential building in Karachi’s Hijrat Colony, killing four people and injuring eight. Rescue efforts were hampered by narrow streets, but police, Rescue 1122, and firefighters managed to control the fire within two hours.
December 22, 2020, witnessed a fatal boiler explosion at an ice factory in New Karachi’s industrial area, killing eight and injuring 30. The blast destroyed the factory and damaged adjacent industrial units and houses. Investigations considered chemicals stored on-site as a possible factor. Emergency services conducted rescue operations and transported the injured to hospitals, though the final inquiry report was not made public.
On August 27, 2021, an electrical short circuit caused a fire at the BM Luggage factory in Karachi’s Mehran Town, resulting in 16 deaths. Workers were trapped due to blocked exits and barred windows. Manslaughter charges were filed against factory and building owners, supervisors, and a watchman, with several arrests following rejected bail applications.
January 17, 2022, brought tragedy to a private hospital in Karachi, where a fire in a generator room during maintenance killed two workers and injured another. Patients were safely relocated, and three fire engines responded. The investigation report was not disclosed.
Lastly, on June 4, 2022, a fire in Lahore’s Children’s Hospital originated in a medical store, destroying medicines and supplies. Rescue 1122 battled the fire for six hours. This incident raised concerns about the storage of flammable medical materials. The inquiry results were not shared publicly.
