Chief Minister of Sindh, Murad Ali Shah, convened a meeting on Thursday to examine the inquiry report on the Gul Plaza fire and emphasized the need for comprehensive reforms in the province’s building safety regulations. He praised the judicial commission for its diligent investigation and called for extensive measures to enhance fire safety standards across Sindh.
The CM instructed that fire safety audits be made compulsory for all buildings in the province. The meeting was briefed on the tragic fire that erupted at Gul Plaza on the night of January 17, which lasted over 32 hours and resulted in the deaths of more than 73 people. Relief teams recovered six intact bodies, while the remains of other victims were severely charred.
The inquiry report identified multiple shortcomings, including the absence of adequate firefighting equipment and alarm systems within the shopping mall. It also highlighted that emergency exit arrangements were grossly insufficient, and encroachments along with ongoing construction outside the mall obstructed rescue operations. In response, the chief minister directed the removal of these encroachments and improvements to emergency access routes.
Murad Ali Shah stressed that ensuring public safety is a primary government responsibility and called for strict enforcement of existing safety laws. He also ordered the preparation of draft legislation should further legal measures be necessary.
To oversee the implementation of these directives, the CM formed a committee comprising provincial ministers Nasir Shah, Zia Lanjar, and Jam Ikram. This committee is tasked with conducting a thorough review of the Gul Plaza fire inquiry report and submitting recommendations directly to the chief minister.
The judicial commission’s report, submitted earlier to the government, revealed significant negligence by various institutions. It criticized the district administration for its inadequate response during the crisis and expressed concern over the failure to act on fire safety recommendations issued in 2023. Furthermore, the fire brigade department, despite having the required resources, was found to have underperformed during the emergency.
The Sindh government had established the judicial commission on February 10, appointing Justice Agha Faisal to lead the investigation into the fire incident.
