HRCP says systemic lapses allowed Gul Plaza fire to spread so rapidly and claim so many lives

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Wednesday expressed serious concern over the loss of lives in the recent fire at Gul Plaza in Karachi, calling the incident a reflection of long-standing failures in urban management and public safety.

In a statement shared on X, the rights body said, “HRCP expresses deep concern over the loss of life caused by the recent fire at Gul Plaza in Karachi. Thus far, at least 31 victims' bodies have been identified, with scores still missing.” It added that the tragedy had once again highlighted deep-rooted problems in the city’s governance, construction oversight and emergency response systems.

The commission said that the fire had exposed “chronic and deadly failures in the city's urban governance, building safety and emergency preparedness.” While noting that the exact cause of the blaze has yet to be confirmed, HRCP said this uncertainty itself was worrying.

It stressed that “even more alarming are the systemic lapses that allowed a fire to spread so rapidly and claim so many lives—disproportionately affecting the working class.”

Referring to past incidents, HRCP said repeated tragedies in Karachi show that safety regulations are not properly enforced and that emergency services lack adequate resources. “Repeated incidents across Karachi show that building codes remain poorly enforced and rescue services severely under-resourced,” the statement read.

The commission urged the Sindh government to take immediate steps, saying, “In the short term, the Sindh government must ensure an independent investigation to determine accountability and urgently overhaul fire safety standards and emergency response mechanisms.”

HRCP further said that lasting solutions require empowered local governments, arguing that “the answer lies in effective local governments that would be best positioned to implement the lessons learned from the numerous industrial accidents that have occurred in the city.”