KARACHI: Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab said that rescue and relief operations are continuing continuously following the tragic incident. The rescue teams are currently present on the ground and working tirelessly. While speaking to the media on his visit to Gul Plaza on Monday evening, the Mayor said that so far 65 missing persons have been registered, out of which 18 have been identified amongst the deceased. More bodies have been recovered and the identification process is underway. Once DNA reports are received, the bodies will be handed over to their families. He said that the affected families are going through immense grief and distress, and they deserved full government support during this difficult time. That is why, he continued, the government officials are present at the site. He made it clear that there is no room for sloganeering or political point-scoring in such circumstances, adding that “we are staying with the people, face their problems, and resolve them.” Barrister Murtaza Wahab said that Pakistan Peoples’ Party MPA Ali Ahmed Jan was also present at the site and that his supporters were among those affected by the tragedy. He emphasized that all representatives and citizens are equally sharing the pain of this difficult moment, and stressed that the practice of politicizing tragedies should be avoided, as handling administrative matters is the responsibility of the administration, which is being fulfilled. Praising the role of the Fire Brigade, the Mayor said that the fire was brought under control by fire fighters who performed their duties with professionalism and bravery. He said that fire fighter Furqan sacrificed his life, leaving behind his wife and children to protect the citizens of Karachi. Political blame games, he added, will demoralize these brave individuals who risk their lives to save others. The Mayor said that three major decisions were taken in a meeting chaired by the Chief Minister of Sindh: First, to conduct a complete investigation into the incident, for which the Karachi Commissioner has been tasked to thoroughly examine all aspects, including the building’s approved plans, permissions, number of shops, availability of fire safety exits, and the roles of the Fire Brigade and Rescue 1122. Second, financial assistance will be provided to the families of the deceased. The Sindh government has decided to provide compensation of Rs. 10 million (one crore rupees) per family to help them cope with financial difficulties, as the deceased were their bread winners. Third, the Minister for Local Government, the Mayor Karachi, the Karachi Commissioner, and representatives of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce will sit together to work on compensation and rehabilitation measures so that the affected individuals can be helped to stand on their own feet again. The Mayor said that according to initial information, the first building plan of Gul Plaza was approved in the late 1990s, after which violations were identified, and the building was later regularized. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026