President of the United Business Group (UBG), Zubair Tufail, while terming the fire that broke out at the popular shopping center Gul Plaza located on Karachi’s busiest M.A. Jinnah Road as tragic, said that the blaze and the resulting financial and human losses constitute a great tragedy. Due to the lack of timely action, six people, including a firefighter, lost their lives, while two dozen others were injured. The repeated occurrence of such incidents in Karachi is a matter of serious concern. The Sindh government should immediately compensate the affected shopkeepers and citizens of Gul Plaza for their losses.

According to a statement issued by Gulzar Feroz, Central Spokesperson of the United Business Group (UBG), President UBG Zubair Tufail said that the affected victims have lost businesses established through years of hard work, and their rehabilitation is the responsibility of the government. He emphasized that strict implementation of fire safety laws must be ensured and safety arrangements in commercial buildings should be reviewed afresh so that the lives and property of citizens can be protected.

He further said that all possible measures must be taken to safeguard people’s lives and property, and maximum assistance should be provided to the affected traders and other individuals. Zubair Tufail added that the entire leadership of the United Business Group stands in solidarity with the bereaved families of those who lost their lives, and demanded from both the federal and provincial governments to ensure better medical facilities for the injured and immediate assistance for the affected shopkeepers so that they may be able to resume their businesses before Eid.

He expressed heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the fire and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.