ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: A deadly fire at a major shopping plaza in Pakistan’s largest city of Karachi has caused estimated losses of up to Rs15 billion ($53.6 million), a traders representative said this week, as authorities continue rescue and recovery operations and struggle to identify dozens of victims killed in the blaze. The fire broke out on Jan. 17 at Gul Plaza, a densely packed commercial building in the heart of Karachi and home to over 1,200 shops, trapping workers and shoppers inside and burning for more than 24 hours before being brought under control.

KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: Karachi’s business community on Tuesday estimated losses of about $18 million after a devastating fire tore through a major shopping plaza in the city, with…

Karachi’s deadliest fire in years raises urgent questions about building safety, rescue capacity and urban governance.