Emergency response launched as fire engulfs building on Karachi’s Shahrah-e-Faisal

A fire broke out on Friday at Kawish Plaza, located on Karachi’s Shahra-e-Faisal, prompting an ongoing rescue operation to evacuate individuals trapped inside the building, according to a statement from Rescue 1122.

“People in the building have moved to the rooftop and will be rescued soon,” the spokesperson said. The fire reportedly started in a generator on the second floor, with thick smoke complicating rescue efforts.

The Central Command and Control Rescue 1122 immediately dispatched a team, including one ambulance and three fire brigade trucks, to the site. Efforts are ongoing to bring the fire under control as quickly as possible, the spokesperson added.

Sindh Minister for Rehabilitation, Makhdoom Mehboobuz Zaman, has directed the rescue operation to be expedited, his spokesperson confirmed.

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Fire safety lapses are a recurring issue in Karachi, where many buildings lack proper precautions. Last year, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) revealed to the Sindh High Court that none of the 265 commercial buildings audited had a fire safety certificate or NOC from the fire brigade.

Moreover, 155 buildings lacked fire alarms and smoke detectors, highlighting the city’s dire need for improved fire safety measures.