Recovery operations at the site of the Gul Plaza tragedy entered their ninth day on Sunday, as rescue teams recovered additional human remains and moved closer to ending the search.
The devastating fire erupted on January 17 and rapidly engulfed the multi-storey shopping complex, the largest blaze in Karachi in more than a decade. Gul Plaza housed nearly 1,200 small family-owned shops, many selling wedding apparel, toys, and household goods.
Rescue officials said urban search-and-rescue teams recovered remains from the third floor of the collapsed structure overnight. Authorities immediately transferred the remains to Civil Hospital Karachi for DNA profiling.
According to Rescue 1122, the confirmed death toll has reached 71. The District South deputy commissioner’s office recorded 82 missing persons, of whom 10 to 11 remain unaccounted for.
At least 67 people have died in Pakistan's Gul Plaza fire, with witness accounts and documents suggesting ignored safety warnings and a delayed fire brigade response https://t.co/cSzaGiPNzY pic.twitter.com/Qp91EynveG
— Reuters Asia (@ReutersAsia) January 24, 2026Officials confirmed the identification of 22 victims so far. DNA analysis helped confirm 15 identities, while the remaining cases await verification.
District South Deputy Commissioner Javed Nabi Khoso said search and recovery work would conclude on Sunday. He clarified that debris removal would continue beyond the recovery phase.
Khoso confirmed that authorities registered a case related to the incident and launched a formal investigation. He urged restraint, saying speculation would remain premature until investigators complete their work.
FIR Registered, Investigation Expands
Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) at Nabi Bux Police Station, citing negligence and carelessness. Officials lodged the case against unidentified individuals and sealed the FIR after registration.
Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar confirmed the FIR and said investigators were examining all angles. He noted that authorities may add anti-terrorism provisions if evidence supports concerns of sabotage.
Calls for Federal Inquiry and Relief Fund
Meanwhile, MQM-P Chairman Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui wrote to Shehbaz Sharif, seeking the formation of a federal inquiry commission into the tragedy.
The party urged the inclusion of multiple institutions, including the Federal Investigation Agency, the National Accountability Bureau, the National Disaster Management Authority, the Military Intelligence, the Inter-Services Intelligence, NESPAK, and the State Bank of Pakistan.
MQM-P also called for the immediate establishment of a relief and rehabilitation fund to support victims’ families and affected traders.
Sindh CM @MuradAliShahPPP traced the history of Gul Plaza, revealing that most irregularities were approved decades earlier. He said the original plan allowed only a basement and two floors, while additional floors were later sanctioned. #GulPlaza pic.twitter.com/0eJsd1yLOv
— Sindh Chief Minister House (@SindhCMHouse) January 23, 2026Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah told the provincial assembly that authorities initially reported 88 missing persons. He said one person later returned safely, while five entries were duplicated, reducing the confirmed number to 82.
Separately, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori said he would write to the Chief Justices of the Supreme Court and Sindh High Court to seek a judicial inquiry. He stressed that authorities must identify and punish those responsible without delay
