Karachi Mayor Calls for Mandatory Fire Safety Systems in All Buildings

Karachi: Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab has said that the rescue operation in Gul Plaza is almost 70 percent complete and two-thirds of the building has been cleared, but no more bodies have been found yet. He said that the final number of dead and full details will be revealed by morning.

Speaking to the media, Murtaza Wahab said that the Building Control Authority is conducting a complete technical assessment of the building to find out why the fire spread so quickly and where the safety arrangements were deficient. He said that the process of identifying the bodies is ongoing, and it will be possible to give an accurate number only after the DNA reports come.

According to the mayor of Karachi, the first and second floors of Gul Plaza have been cleared, while the overall rescue operation is 70 percent complete. He said that the administration has received complaints of 81 missing persons, many of whom have repeated names, so the actual number will come out only after proper verification.

Murtaza Wahab said that this tragedy is a warning to buildings across the city. He said that if fire safety systems, emergency exits, and fire alarms are not installed in commercial and residential buildings, such accidents will continue to occur. He stressed that building owners will have to fulfill legal requirements.

On the other hand, the Sindh Building Control Authority has declared Rampa Plaza, adjacent to Gul Plaza, unsafe. According to the SBCA, the pillars of Rampa Plaza have been affected due to the debris of Gul Plaza, on which notices have been issued to the administration and shop owners.

The SBCA has imposed an immediate ban on the use of dangerous parts of Rampa Plaza and warned that strict action will be taken if any illegal activity is allowed. Officials say that no one will be allowed to enter the building until a complete structural report is received.