"At least six people were killed after a massive fire tore through Gul Plaza, a major shopping mall in Karachi, on Sunday. Footage shows thick plumes of smoke billowing from the building as flames burn inside the damaged structure, while firefighters battled the blaze amid heavy smoke. Muhammad Naeem, president of Gul Plaza shopping mall, said the fire caused extensive damage to the complex. “Gul Plaza houses over 1,200 shops, and the fire has caused losses exceeding one billion rupees. As a major shopping hub, the plaza had well-organised shops offering a wide variety of goods, making the damage especially devastating and a significant blow to traders and the local market,” he said. Naeem added that rescue operations were continuing. “Many people are still believed to be trapped on the upper floors. So far, bodies of those who died in the fire have been recovered, while search operations are ongoing to locate the missing,” he said. Eyewitness Sana Naaz, a shop owner, described the moment she escaped. “As soon as we emerged from the basement, we encountered a massive wall of smoke on the first and second floors. We never expected the situation to be so severe. It was only after completing our assignment that we learned about the full scale of the catastrophe,” she said. According to Pakistan’s state news agency, six people were killed in the fire, including a rescue worker, while several others were critically injured. “The injured were hospitalised for suffocation and burns, and a number of them have been discharged after receiving necessary treatment,” the agency reported. Authorities in Sindh province extended condolences to the families of the victims and announced an immediate investigation into the cause of the fire. The provincial government said rescue operations were being closely monitored and that additional safety inspections would be carried out, particularly in older buildings. A state of emergency was also declared at Civil Hospital Karachi."