KARACHI – A fire that broke out at Gul Plaza at MA Jinnah Road in Karach on Saturday night has been completely extinguished after 33-hour-long operations.

The fire, which started on the ground floor, rapidly spread to the third floor of the building, causing significant structural damage. During the search operation, four more bodies were recovered, bringing the death toll to 14. Officials said over 60 persons are still missing and efforts are underway to trace them.

The fire began around 10:15 PM on Saturday and quickly escalated, with parts of the building collapsing due to the intense flames. Firefighters worked tirelessly for over a day to bring the blaze under control, and now the cooling process is underway.

Once the fire was contained, rescue teams entered the building to conduct a limited search operation in the burned shops. During this search, the remains of three individuals, including a child, were found and transferred to the trauma center of the Civil Hospital.

Gul Plaza Karachi burnout completely. Seven casualties recorded so far. Billions lost. Story’s developing 👇pic.twitter.com/y3IEQtVmTg

— Zahid Gishkori (@ZahidGishkori) January 18, 2026

Relatives of those missing stood outside the building for hours, anxiously waiting for news. Police have gathered mobile numbers of missing persons from their families, and over 20 individuals have been traced to the location of Gul Plaza.

According to rescue officials, efforts are ongoing to reach more areas of the building by cutting windows and breaking down walls with hammers.

Authorities have warned that due to the fire’s damage, the building’s pillars have become weak, with cracks appearing in several parts of the structure, making it prone to collapse.

President, PM Offer Full Assistance

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif have both reached out to Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, offering all available assistance.

The president has instructed that all resources be mobilized for relief efforts and praised the bravery of firefighter Farhan Shaukat, who lost his life during the operation.

The prime minister also expressed condolences and reiterated that the federal government will extend full support.

Sindh Governor Expresses Condolences

Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori visited Gul Plaza and expressed his condolences, emphasizing the tragedy of over 70 people going missing. He assured the public that he would remain committed to assisting until the full extent of the damage is addressed.

Karachi Mayor Confirms 65 Still Missing

Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab also visited the site and called for speeding up the relief operations. He acknowledged the challenges posed by the large crowd and ongoing difficulties in the rescue process.

He confirmed that 65 people are still missing.

Wahab confirmed that efforts are being made from all sides of the building, though it’s still uncertain when the cooling process will be completed.

Karachi Gul Plaza Fire Detailed Report Revealed

A detailed report on the recent fire at Gul Plaza in Karachi has been released, revealing serious deficiencies in the building’s safety measures.

According to the report, Gul Plaza lacked emergency exits, and there were no provisions for effectively combating a fire. The narrow internal and external pathways also posed significant challenges to firefighters during the operation.

The building, constructed in 1995, originally comprised a basement, ground floor, and first floor.

However, between 1995 and 2003, three additional floors were added to the structure. The original design had space for 500 shops, but the number of shops grew significantly, exceeding 1,200. This overcrowding further compounded the dangers during the fire.

The fire broke out on the ground floor of the building around 10:15 PM on Saturday night and quickly escalated, reaching the third floor. The intense flames caused parts of the building to collapse, leading to the deaths of at least six people.

Officials have noted that the fire’s rapid spread was exacerbated by the building’s structural deficiencies, including the absence of emergency exits and inadequate firefighting measures. A

s a result, the firefighting teams faced significant technical challenges in controlling the blaze, making the situation even more perilous.