By Micah Jonah, January 20, 2026
Tragedy struck Pakistan’s commercial capital after a massive fire swept through the Gul Plaza Shopping Mall in central Karachi, killing at least 21 people and leaving over 60 others missing, as rescue operations continued more than 24 hours after the blaze began.
The fire reportedly started late on Saturday, with early signs appearing as smoke from ventilation ducts, leading many inside the building to believe it was a minor incident. However, the flames quickly spread through the multi storey complex that houses about 1,200 shops, trapping dozens of people inside.
Police officials disclosed that only three out of the mall’s 16 exits were unlocked at the time of the fire, as most gates had already been shut ahead of closing time. This severely limited escape routes, especially for people on the upper floors, forcing some to attempt dangerous exits through windows.
Survivors, shop owners, described scenes of confusion and panic as smoke filled the building, visibility dropped, while rescue workers battled intense heat and debris to reach those trapped inside. Emergency officials later recovered bodies and continued searching through the rubble for missing persons.
Anger has been rising
among victims’ families, business owners over what they described as slow emergency response and poor safety standards. Hundreds gathered at the site on Monday demanding accountability, as authorities promised a full investigation into both the cause of the fire and the handling of the rescue operation.
Pakistan’s provincial government has assured the public that those responsible for safety lapses will be held to account, as the tragedy renews calls for strict enforcement of building safety regulations across commercial centres.
