A high-level committee inspection has revealed that a staggering 91.3% of buildings in Sindh are operating without basic fire safety arrangements. The audit, triggered by the tragic Gul Plaza fire in Karachi in January 2026—which claimed nearly 80 lives—surveyed 3,633 buildings across the province. Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah reported that 889 buildings have been classified as “high-risk” due to severe violations, leading the government to initiate immediate orders to seal these structures to prevent further loss of life.
The safety crisis is not limited to Sindh; a parallel survey by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) in Islamabad found that the majority of the 6,500 buildings surveyed lacked mandatory fire safety certifications. Even 300 government buildings in the capital failed to meet compliance standards. In response, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has issued a 15-day ultimatum for building owners in Islamabad to submit hazard control certificates, warning of strict legal action and heavy fines for non-compliance.
The Gul Plaza disaster highlighted critical failures, including locked emergency exits, a lack of smoke alarms, and highly combustible materials stored in commercial zones. To address these deep-rooted issues, the Sindh government has approved a three-phase implementation plan. This includes immediate measures like installing fire extinguishers and signage, short-term goals for smoke detectors and hydrants, and long-term upgrades involving the complete overhaul of electrical wiring and automatic suppression systems in high-risk zones.
