During proceedings at the Sindh High Court, the judicial commission investigating the Gul Plaza fire was informed that 280 CCTV cameras were installed in the building.
Tanveer Pasta, president of the Gul Plaza association, appeared before the commission on Thursday and detailed the building’s safety and security arrangements. He said that DVRs from some cameras were recovered after the fire, which destroyed the commercial plaza on M.A. Jinnah Road on January 17. The fire trapped dozens and raged for over 32 hours, exposing weaknesses in emergency response.
The commission questioned Pasta about the official closing times of the plaza. He stated that on weekdays, the plaza closes between 10:30 PM and 10:45 PM, while on Saturdays, it shuts between 10:30 PM and 11:00 PM. Gate closures begin at Gate No. 1 around 10:30 PM and take about 20 minutes. On Saturdays, gates start closing at 10:45 PM, and the ramp closes at 11:30 PM.
Regarding the CCTV cameras, Pasta said they had been recently upgraded, with coverage across main corridors, mezzanines, and key security points. DVRs were installed at two locations, including the basement security room. He confirmed that the management was responsible for maintaining the CCTV cameras and deploying security guards. At the time of the fire, six guards were on duty.
Pasta also discussed the plaza’s layout, stating the main corridors were six to eight feet wide, and mezzanine corridors about ten feet wide. The building had 1,153 leased shops, with basement parking discontinued in 2003 and replaced by rooftop parking. He noted that complete sub-lease records were unavailable, but maintenance fees of Rs1,500 were collected from shop owners.
The commission’s inquiry aims to assess the role of management and the effectiveness of safety measures, including the CCTV cameras, in the disaster. Authorities are reviewing how footage and other security systems could help prevent such incidents in the future.
The fire at Gul Plaza remains one of the deadliest commercial building disasters, and the investigation continues to determine accountability and lapses in safety compliance.
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