KARACHI: In the wake of the tragic fire that engulfed Gul Plaza on M.A. Jinnah Road, resulting in the irreparable loss of precious human lives and the destruction of one of Karachi’s busiest commercial centers, an emergent meeting was held at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Sunday wherein formation of Gul Plaza Fire Incident Committee was announced to coordinate relief activities, assess damages, and formally appeal to the government for compensation and rehabilitation of affected traders. The Committee has been formed by Chairman Businessmen Group (BMG) Zubair Motiwala under the joint chairmanship of Vice Chairman BMG Jawed Bilwani and President KCCI Rehan Hanif. The Committee further comprises Vice Chairmen BMG Anjum Nisar, Mian Abrar Ahmed, and Tariq Yousuf; Senior Vice President/Acting President KCCI Muhammad Raza; Vice President Arif Lakhani; President Gul Plaza Association Tanveer Pasta; former Presidents Younus Muhammad Bashir, Shamim Ahmed Firpo, Junaid Esmail Makda, and Muhammad Idrees, along with Rauf Sattar, Razzak Agar, Chairman Law & Order Subcommittee Akram Rana, PCLC Chief Hafeez Aziz, Asif Chamdia, Yousuf Yaqoob, Bholi Chamdia, Tanveer Barry, Farhan Ashrafi, Abdul Rasheed Noorani, Amin Memon, Anis Bhesania, Arif Dhoni, and Asif Danawala. Expressing profound grief and sorrow, the BMG and KCCI leadership conveyed heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and expressed complete solidarity with traders whose shops, goods, and life-long investments were reduced to ashes.BMG and KCCI leadership stated that immediately after the fire broke out, the Chamber remained in constant coordination with the Sindh Government, including Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah, and Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab, who promptly and positively responded to KCCI’s request to ensure immediate rescue and fire fighting operations. KCCI representatives rushed to the site, closely monitored the evolving situation, and maintained continuous follow-up to facilitate smooth rescue efforts. They further stated that the primary responsibility of the Gul Plaza Fire Incident Committee is to ensure proper medical care for the injured and extend special support to the bereaved families. The Committee is also exploring immediate relief measures, including the identification of a nearby building where salvaged goods, inventories, and remains recovered from the fire may be temporarily stored to assist the affected traders. According to preliminary estimates, more than 1,000 small and medium-sized shops have been completely destroyed, inflicting severe financial losses on traders, many of whom have lost their sole source of livelihood. In view of the magnitude of devastation, KCCI has earnestly appealed to the federal and provincial governments, particularly the President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori, and Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah to join hands with KCCI in this noble cause and sympathetically consider announcing a special compensation and rehabilitation package for the affected shopkeepers. BMG and KCCI leadership recalled that during the Bolton Market arson incident, upon the request of late Siraj Kassam Teli and Zubair Motiwala, President Asif Ali Zardari had immediately approved Rs. 3 billion, while the Sindh Government released Rs. 500 million, which resulted in full compensation to 1,958 affectees and the reconstruction and rehabilitation of 19 fire-hit buildings on M.A. Jinnah Road. Drawing from this successful precedent, KCCI assured that it would fully utilize its expertise and institutional capacity to ensure transparent assessment and full compensation for Gul Plaza affectees. “KCCI stands shoulder to shoulder with the traders affected by the Gul Plaza tragedy and will not leave them alone at any stage during this difficult time,” the leadership affirmed, adding that the Chamber would extend all possible support to facilitate relief, rehabilitation, and restoration of livelihoods. Recalling its longstanding role during previous crises, including the Bolton Market arson incident of 2009, as well as the Cooperative Market and Victoria Building fire incidents in 2021, the Karachi Chamber reaffirmed its readiness to provide its complete institutional support and platform to ensure transparent evaluation of losses and timely disbursement of relief. However, KCCI formed a Gul Plaza Fire Incident Committee to coordinate relief activities, assess damages, and formally appeal to the government for compensation and rehabilitation of affected traders. The Committee has been formed by Chairman Businessmen Group (BMG) Zubair Motiwala under the joint chairmanship of Vice Chairman BMG Jawed Bilwani and President KCCI Rehan Hanif. The Committee is also exploring immediate relief measures, including the identification of a nearby building where salvaged goods, inventories, and remains recovered from the fire may be temporarily stored to assist the affected traders. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026