According to the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) Fire Department, a fire incident outside the South Asia Pakistan Terminals (SAPTL) Gate in Clifton, Karachi, was swiftly contained. At approximately 16:15 hours today, the Crisis Management Cell (CMC) received a report of a fire opposite Chapple Apartment.

One fire tender from BOP Fire Station and two from the Central Fire Station were immediately dispatched. Firefighters found the blaze in the driver’s cabin of a tanker and brought it under control within 15 minutes. Cooling operations continued to prevent re-ignition, and the fire was completely extinguished by 16:55 hours.

The tanker was carrying approximately 48,000 litres of Xylene (C₈H₁₀), a highly flammable chemical used in several industries. The timely response prevented the fire from spreading to the tanker, averting a potential explosion which could have caused a disaster. The incident underscores KPT’s operational readiness to safeguard life, property, and port infrastructure.