KARACHI – The deadly fire at Karachi’s Gul Plaza has sparked a wave of outrage on social media, with many calling it an “absolute massacre” and others demanding an inquiry into the matter.
The blaze, which broke out on Saturday night, led to the deaths of at least 10 people, with dozens more feared trapped.
Users online are demanding a full inquiry into the incident, highlighting the building’s lack of emergency exits, overcrowding, and inadequate safety measures.
Critics have called for accountability from authorities, urging officials to investigate the fire’s causes and enforce stricter building safety regulations to prevent future tragedies.
A social media user alleged the people waited for two hours until the fire tenders arrived. She also shared some what she claims to be the “painful” audios of people facing the incident.
Painful audios and videos coming out of Gul plaza Karachi!
Only someone who has lived in Karachi knows what this plaza was! The best wholesale and retail hub! The losses are in crores! And above that, more than 80 people are still missing under the rubble. 💔 the fire hasnt… https://t.co/gv5Q20w8ao pic.twitter.com/hlf4hFPYgk
— Sadia A 🇵🇰 (@Dr_SadiaAz) January 18, 2026
Another user wrote, “Today’s fire at Gul Plaza in Karachi has once again starkly revealed the bitter truth that this city is not plagued by accidents, but by persistent neglect. Flames soared high, fear spread, the earnings of hard labor turned to ashes in 1 night”.
Today’s fire at Gul Plaza in Karachi has once again starkly revealed the bitter truth that this city is not plagued by accidents, but by persistent neglect. Flames soared high, fear spread, the earnings of hard labor turned to ashes in 1 night. 🇵🇰🔥💔🥺#GulPlazaFire #GulPlaza pic.twitter.com/QfvO5NHLAZ
— Dr Naina Niazi 🧚♀️ (@nainaaniiazi) January 18, 2026
A social media user asked, “Who is the responsible for this incident?”
کراچی:گل پلازہ زندہ جل کراللہ کوپیارےہونےوالےبےگناہوں کاقاتل کون ہے؟
کروڑوں روپےکالوگوں کاکاروبارکس کی وجہ سےتباہ ہوا؟
آگ کس کی نااہلی کی وجہ سےبروقت نہ بجھائی جاسکی؟#GulPlaza #KARACHI #گل_پلازہ pic.twitter.com/hEutPnUqKf
— Ali Imran Abbasi (@aliimranabbasi) January 19, 2026
I frequently visit Gul Plaza to buy quality stuff- This video I recorded through my Meta Glasses few days before and I am sad all now is ashes
CM Sindh must constitute a Judicial inquiry to avert such tragedies in future because many such Malls are venerable in #Karachi pic.twitter.com/6HffG52d9l— Zulfiqar Ali (@ZulfiShaikhPK) January 18, 2026
Another user came hard on the authorities for their negligence as she wrote: “My city went through an absolute massacre on the night of January 17th !!”
My city went through an absolute massacre on the night of January 17th !!
something no one should ever have to witness !!
A massive fire erupted at Gul Plaza, one of Karachi’s busiest and most iconic shopping hubs, and within minutes the whole building was engulfed in flames. The…— Nousheen Irfan Khan (@nousheen_irfan) January 19, 2026
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.
