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‘What’s being done for the future?’: Yasir Hussain asks what will change after deadly fire at Karachi’s Gul Plaza

‘What’s being done for the future?’: Yasir Hussain asks what will change after deadly fire at Karachi’s Gul Plaza

The director said several of the city's buildings were in a state similar to the one gutted by the blaze.
21 Jan, 2026

Karachi is still in a state of shock after a weekend blaze at the iconic — but poorly equipped — Gul Plaza killed 29 people. As a search operation for missing people continued, actor Yasir Hussain raised a very important question about fire safety in the City of Lights.

In an Instagram story posted on Wednesday, the actor said he was saddened by the loss, then asked what steps were being taken to prevent such a tragedy in another one of Karachi’s many shopping plazas and smaller malls.

He mentioned all the reasons being cited for the losses — there were too many floors, too many shops, a lot of the stored inventory was made of plastic, they didn’t have the tools to fight the fire, the surrounding roads were dug up for construction and the city’s fire brigade is under-equipped. He said the same was the case with many other similar buildings.

“If, God forbid, something like this happens there, what steps are being taken for that situation, what’s being done for the future, what are [the authorities] planning?” he asked.

Karachi has had a troubled history with fires, where the local fire brigade was unable to control another blaze at the port just a day before the Gul Plaza tragedy — fortunately, there were no casualties, but the navy had to assist with firefighting efforts. Two major fires in the first 20 days of the year isn’t surprising when looking at the tragically long list of such incidents in the last three years.

While an audit of fire safety measures has been ordered in Punjab, Karachi has only seen promises of support and compensation for victims so far.

With the city suffering from a toxic mix of crumbling infrastructure, weak enforcement of safety regulations and widespread negligence, it remains to be seen what lessons will be learnt from the Gul Plaza fire, if any.

Comments

Waheed Jan 21, 2026 05:38pm
Nothing will change
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M. Saeed Jan 21, 2026 05:40pm
Only one thing should change. No completion certificate to be issued to a building before demonstration of the fire control, safety and exit services existing at required level of efficiency.
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Jan 21, 2026 06:30pm
A change is hard to come by.
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Koncered citizen. Jan 21, 2026 07:29pm
Frankly speaking it will be more of the same! We don’t believe in change we believe is consistent pain misery we embrace it with open arms and we will never let this go! It shall pass too!
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Safety First Jan 21, 2026 08:01pm
Very true, there are many more buildings line up to be occurred again same like Gul Plaza tragedy in Karachi. I suggest, Mayor, CM and Governor to take action against all oldest buildings maintenance issues and stability to avoid any more tragedy in Karachi.
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Tabbas Jan 21, 2026 10:28pm
Did anything change after Baldia Town fire ؟ Nothing will change here either. Some heads like that of Mayor, CBCA etc should roll.
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Zulfiqar Jan 21, 2026 10:59pm
He is awake now. The time to speak up has long passed you.
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Sailani Jan 22, 2026 12:26am
Here are some of my suggestions: 1. Plazas and even high rises should have sprinkler systems. 2. Water pumps at the plazas for Fire department trucks. 3. With increase in population, community-based Fire Department Truck availability. 4. Use of sirens only in emergencies. 5. Educate drivers to move to the side for emergency vehicle to continue without obstruction. This requires local laws to be changed.
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Ron Jan 22, 2026 02:45am
NOTHING has been done and will be done...Sorry
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Najeeb Jan 22, 2026 04:21am
No lesson will be learnt. Might be a few tenders for firesafety equipment, which will eventually consumed in corruption. That's it, its an orphan city, and finally jeyee Bhutto.
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