Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Monday announced a compensation package of Rs10 million for each family that lost a loved one in the Gul Plaza fire, along with a commitment to rehabilitate the traders affected by the tragedy.
He assured that immediate relief would be provided to both bereaved families and shop owners whose livelihoods were destroyed. The announcement came during a high-level meeting in Karachi attended by provincial ministers Sharjeel Inam Memon, Nasir Hussain Shah, Saeed Ghani, the Karachi mayor and other senior officials.
Reviewing the post-fire situation and relief efforts, the chief minister said financial assistance for the victims’ families would begin from Tuesday. Expressing sorrow over the incident, he said the tragedy had shattered many households and left hundreds of traders without a source of income.
Murad Ali Shah said President Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari have remained in constant contact and directed that affected traders be rehabilitated at the earliest. He reaffirmed that the government stands firmly with all those impacted.
Officials informed the meeting that Gul Plaza contained around 1,200 shops, meaning nearly the same number of traders have suffered losses. The chief minister instructed authorities to prepare a comprehensive plan for their rehabilitation.
Describing the blaze as a major incident, he said rescue teams and firefighters are trying to enter the building from three directions, while 73 people are still reported missing. Efforts to trace them are continuing.
He ordered the immediate removal of debris and called for a forensic investigation to determine the cause of the fire. Emphasizing urgency, he said families of those who lost their lives must receive compensation without delay.
A spokesperson added that the Sindh government has formed a committee to supervise relief, compensation and rehabilitation work for the victims of the Gul Plaza tragedy.