Karachi, January 18, 2026 – The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic fire incident at Gul Plaza on M.A. Jinnah Road, which claimed precious human lives and caused massive destruction to one of Karachi’s busiest commercial hubs.
In response, KCCI announced the formation of a Gul Plaza Fire Incident Committee to coordinate relief efforts, assess financial losses, and formally approach the government for compensation and rehabilitation of affected traders.
An emergency meeting was held at KCCI on Sunday, chaired by Chairman Businessmen Group (BMG) Zubair Motiwala, who constituted the committee under the joint chairmanship of Vice Chairman BMG Jawed Bilwani and President KCCI Rehan Hanif. The committee includes senior leadership from BMG and KCCI, representatives of the Gul Plaza Association, former KCCI presidents, and key members of relevant subcommittees.
Expressing profound grief, the BMG and KCCI leadership conveyed heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and affirmed complete solidarity with traders whose shops, inventories, and lifelong investments were destroyed in the blaze.
KCCI officials stated that immediately after the fire erupted, the Chamber remained in constant coordination with the Sindh Government, including Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah, and Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab, all of whom responded promptly to ensure swift rescue and firefighting operations. KCCI representatives were present at the site to monitor developments and facilitate emergency response efforts.
The Gul Plaza Fire Incident Committee’s primary mandate includes ensuring proper medical care for the injured, providing support to bereaved families, and arranging immediate relief measures. These include identifying a nearby facility for temporary storage of salvaged goods and recovered inventory. Preliminary assessments indicate that over 1,000 small and medium-sized shops have been completely destroyed, leaving many traders without their sole source of livelihood.
Considering the scale of devastation, KCCI has appealed to the federal and provincial governments—particularly President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori, and Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah—to announce a special compensation and rehabilitation package for the affected shopkeepers.
Recalling the successful compensation initiative following the Bolton Market arson incident, KCCI leadership highlighted that timely government support had enabled full compensation and reconstruction. Drawing from this precedent, the Chamber pledged to ensure transparent loss assessment and fair compensation for Gul Plaza affectees.
“KCCI stands shoulder to shoulder with the affected traders and will continue to support them at every stage of relief and rehabilitation,” the leadership affirmed, reiterating the Chamber’s longstanding role during previous fire incidents and commercial crises in Karachi.