The deadly cost of ignoring fire safety

The deadly cost of ignoring fire safety

It was one of Karachi's busiest commercial centres, especially for wedding garments and wholesale goods. No more. Gul Plaza burned to the ground in a few short hours on the night of January 17, 2026. It took with it the lives of at least 73 people. This is a tragedy that has shaken not just the people of Karachi but all of Pakistan. What makes the catastrophe especially heart-rending is that it was entirely avoidable. Gul Plaza has brought into …

Lack of regulation, awareness behind repeated fire tragedies: Speakers

KARACHI: Urban planners, fire safety experts, civil society representatives, and labour rights activists have called for immediate reforms to prevent recurring fire tragedies in the urban centre of the country. They expressed serious concerns over fire safety, weak building regulations, and the absence of workers’ protection mechanisms in the public building. They were speaking at a multi-stakeholder dialogue titled “Fire Safety: Building Regula…