Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui has announced relief stalls to support traders affected by the deadly fire. The mayor confirmed that 1,200 free stalls will be provided to displaced shopkeepers.
The move aims to offer temporary financial relief, especially during the peak trading season of Ramadan.
According to the mayor, the free stalls will be established at the Polo Ground in Karachi’s Red Zone. He clarified that no fee will be charged from traders affected by the Gul Plaza incident.
The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation has been directed to ensure smooth arrangements and proper coordination with traders and building management.
Read: Gul Plaza Fire Exposes Karachi Fire Brigade Failures
Mayor Wahab said KMC has been tasked with preparing a comprehensive rehabilitation plan for the victims. He noted that since the reconstruction of Gul Plaza has not yet started, immediate relief measures were necessary.
He assured traders that the city administration would continue to support them until long-term solutions were implemented.
سانحہ گل پلازہ کے متاثرین کی بحالی کا بڑا فیصلہ، میئر کراچی @murtazawahab1 کا @KmcPakistan حکام کو بحالی منصوبہ تیار کرنے کی ہدایت، رمضان المبارک میں گل پلازہ کے متاثرین کو بلا معاوضہ 1200 اسٹالز لگاکر دینے کا فیصلہ،
ریڈ زون میں قائم پولو گراونڈ میں اسٹال لگانے کی اجازت سندھ… pic.twitter.com/JYI86RTn7c
— Arsalan Memon (@sincereperson89) February 6, 2026Expressing solidarity, the mayor stated that the Pakistan Peoples Party, the Sindh government, and KMC stand firmly with the affected families and traders. He acknowledged that Ramadan is a crucial business period and promised maximum support. The mayor added that the PPP shares the victims’ grief and remains committed to their rehabilitation.
Deadly Gul Plaza fire revisited
The relief announcement follows the tragic Gul Plaza fire that broke out on the night of January 17 on M.A. Jinnah Road. The blaze claimed at least 79 lives, while dozens of people were reported missing.
Firefighting efforts continued for more than 32 hours before the flames were finally brought under control
An official inquiry into the Gul Plaza tragedy revealed serious safety lapses. Investigators found delayed emergency response, structural flaws, and a lack of basic fire safety systems.
The fire reportedly started when a matchstick ignited artificial flowers inside a ground-floor shop. Highly flammable materials caused the blaze to spread rapidly.
The investigation confirmed that Gul Plaza lacked fire alarms and sprinkler systems. Electricity was not cut off in time, and blocked emergency exits trapped many occupants inside. Officials concluded that the failure to conduct safety audits and violations of fire regulations directly contributed to the scale of the disaster.
