KARACHI: Sindh’s building regulator on Tuesday gave owners and builders three days to address fire safety deficiencies in commercial and residential buildings, after a devastating blaze at a multistory shopping plaza in Karachi killed at least 28 people, with dozens still unaccounted for.
The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) issued the ultimatum in a letter to the Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD), a leading body representing construction firms, citing fire safety audit reports by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and warning that failure to comply would trigger legal action under provincial building laws.
The move comes as rescue teams continue to search the wreckage of Gul Plaza, where a fire broke out late on Saturday and burned for more than 24 hours before being brought under control.
Large sections of the building collapsed during the blaze, complicating rescue efforts and forcing authorities to deploy heavy machinery to clear debris. Officials say dozens of people, mostly shop owners and customers, remain missing.
“Since SBCA will not be able to achieve the desired objectives [of strengthening fire protection mechanisms] without the cooperation of your members in this matter, you are therefore requested to direct your members to immediately comply with the fire safety deficiencies highlighted in the audit reports within three (03) days, as this is an urgent matter requiring immediate compliance,” the authority said in the letter shared by Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab on social media.
