‘Around 90 percent buildings in Pakistan lack fire safety system’

KARACHI: Sindh’s Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has said that the Gul Plaza tragedy is a sorrowful and painful incident, which has brought tears to every eye and grief to every Pakistani. This grief is not only of the bereaved families but of all of us, and in this difficult time of suffering for the affected families, the Sindh government stands with them.

Speaking at a press conference in Karachi, Sindh’s Senior Minister and Provincial Minister for Information, Transport, and Mass Transit, Sharjeel Inam Memon, said that since the first day of the tragedy, the Sindh government has been working on a single-point agenda: to recover all the bodies from the debris. DNA tests are being conducted, the government has received information about 86 missing persons, while the search for the remaining individuals continues, with the administration working day and night.

He stated that the families of those who lost their lives will be given 10 million rupees each, and the Sindh government will compensate 1,200 shopkeepers for their losses. In the past, during incidents such as the Timber Market fire and the burning of Bolton Market on Ashura, the Sindh government had assessed damages through the Chamber of Commerce and compensated the affected shopkeepers. This time too, compensation will be provided honestly under a systematic mechanism.

Sharjeel Inam Memon said that human life has no price, and the government wants to ensure that such incidents do not happen again. During firefighting, one firefighter was martyred, and the government shares the grief of his family equally.

He mentioned that on 1 January 2024, an audit report was presented, and notices were sent to all shops at that time when there was a caretaker Chief Minister.

He said that for a transparent inquiry into this fire, a committee has been tasked to review the causes of the fire, any negligence in rescue operations, and other factors. We are all awaiting the committee’s report.

According to Sharjeel Inam Memon, a delegation from the Chamber of Commerce met the Chief Minister of Sindh and supported ensuring fire safety in all buildings. However, across Pakistan, approximately 90% of buildings lack fire safety systems, and resistance is faced when enforcing SOPs.