KARACHI – The KMC Municipal Commissioner has provided a detailed statement to the judicial inquiry into the Gul Plaza fire that occurred on January 17, 2026. The deadly blaze engulfed the commercial building on M.A. Jinnah Road, trapping dozens and burning for over 32 hours.
The commissioner clarified that KMC’s responsibilities were limited to the main road and that removal of encroachments fell under the Town Municipal Committee Saddar. He added that the Civil Defence Directorate handled fire audits, while Rescue 1122 was mandated to conduct safety audits under the Emergency Rescue Service Act 2023.
“Under the Sindh Local Government Act 2013, firefighting was KMC’s duty. The 2023 Act transferred firefighting and rescue responsibilities to Rescue 1122,” the commissioner explained. The KMC Council had approved this transfer in December 2025.
Despite the shift, KMC voluntarily conducted a fire safety audit of 200 city buildings and submitted its 2024 report. The commissioner criticized the district administration, noting that district committees formed under the National Disaster Management Act did not take tangible measures to prevent such incidents.
Traffic congestion on M.A. Jinnah Road, caused by the Green Line construction, also delayed emergency response. After the fire report, cranes, excavators, jackhammers, and other machinery were deployed to assist rescue operations. Fire brigade officials, city wardens, and other municipal staff worked at the scene to contain the blaze.
Previously, Director General Rescue 1122, Wajid Sibghatullah, informed the commission that shutting down electricity at Gul Plaza was a critical mistake. He stressed that timely reporting of the fire to Rescue 1122 could have saved many lives.
The inquiry continues to examine the effectiveness of emergency measures and the coordination between municipal departments. Officials hope the commission’s findings will help prevent future disasters at Gul Plaza and other city buildings.
In other news read more about Two Survivors of Gul Plaza Blaze Testify in Front of Judicial Panel
The Gul Plaza fire remains one of Karachi’s deadliest commercial building incidents, highlighting gaps in fire safety audits, emergency response, and inter-agency coordination.
