Dozens of firefighters successfully controlled a major fire at a garment factory located in Karachi’s SITE area following a four-hour operation on Monday night. No casualties were reported during the incident, officials confirmed. Chief Fire Officer Muhammad Humayun Khan stated that the fire was now under control and cooling efforts were ongoing to prevent any flare-ups.
The fire erupted around 11:20 pm near Habib Bank Chowrangi in SITE Town. It quickly spread to the factory’s second floor, where large stocks of plastic granules, plastic rolls, rubber, fiber, and other combustible materials were stored, intensifying the blaze. Humayun explained that the presence of plastic granules significantly fueled the fire. The factory produced garments, mattresses, and plastic granules used in manufacturing Chinese-style shopping bags.
Firefighters initially faced considerable challenges due to the highly flammable contents within the roughly 2,500-square-yard facility. Over the course of the operation, 12 fire tenders, a snorkel, three water bowsers, and six water tankers were deployed to the scene. Foam was also applied to help suppress the flames.
The Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KW&SC) ensured an uninterrupted water supply to the firefighting teams, delivering approximately 150,000 gallons so far. Water was drawn from five government hydrants, including the Crush Plant One and Two hydrants, which supplied a combined 100,000 gallons. Additionally, 30,000 gallons came from the Sakhi Hassan hydrant, with further support from the Safoora and NIPA hydrants.
Personnel from the Pakistan Rangers and police forces assisted in the rescue efforts and maintained security around the site. Humayun noted that some individuals were inside the factory when the fire started but evacuated promptly, and no one remained inside during the firefighting operation. The exact cause of the fire remains undetermined and will be investigated after the cooling process is complete.
After approximately four hours of intense firefighting, officials confirmed the blaze was under control, with cooling operations continuing to extinguish any remaining hotspots. Karachi has experienced numerous major fires in factories and commercial buildings, especially in industrial zones, raising ongoing concerns about fire safety and emergency response readiness.
In 2025 alone, over 2,400 fire incidents were recorded citywide, despite Karachi having only 28 fire stations to serve its population. The Landhi Export Processing Zone (EPZ) has been the site of several significant factory fires in recent years. For instance, in February, a fire at a plastic factory spread to an adjacent warehouse and another factory, requiring an 11-hour firefighting effort involving more than 20 fire tenders and three snorkels. Officials attributed the fire’s intensity to plastic and other flammable materials.
Similarly, a separate fire in the Landhi EPZ in June 2025 spread to three additional factories. Rescue teams cited dense smoke and water shortages as major obstacles during that operation, which deployed over 20 fire tenders and resulted in injuries to five firefighters.
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