Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah has stated that the government, in collaboration with the Karachi Chamber, is actively working to help shopkeepers restart their businesses and aims to ensure compensation is provided within two months so they can buy inventory to restart their businesses. While addressing the inaugural ceremony of the 21^st My Karachi – Oasis of Harmony Exhibition on Friday, the Chief Minister informed that several locations have been identified where affected shopkeepers will be facilitated to resume their businesses until the complete reconstruction of Gul Plaza. He clarified that no rent will be charged for these temporary shops, and the shopkeepers will only be required to bear the basic maintenance expenses.

Sindh Minister for Industries Ikramullah Khan Dharejo, Sindh Minister FOR Culture and Tourism Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Chairman Businessmen Group Zubair Motiwala, Vice Chairman BMG Anjum Nisar, Jawed Bilwani, Mian Abrar Ahmed, Tariq Yousuf, President KCCI Rehan Hanif, Vice President KCCI Muhammad Arif Lakhani, Chairman KCCI’s Special Committee for My Karachi Exhibition Muhammad Idrees, prominent businessman Arif Habib, along with a large number of diplomats from friendly countries, businesspeople, industrialists, and KCCI Executive Committee Members were present on the occasion.

Murad Ali Shah further stated that the Sindh Government is providing compensation of Rs. 10 million each to the families of those who lost their lives in the Gul Plaza incident. As an immediate relief measure, Rs. 500,000 each is also being provided to the shopkeepers of Gul Plaza.

Chief Minister further announced that the Gul Plaza building will be reconstructed in the same manner and with the same number of shops, while ensuring improved standards. He stated that the new building, without a single extra square inch, will be constructed in a better and safer manner within two years.

Commenting on My Karachi Exhibition, he paid rich tribute to the Karachi Chamber for initiating the exhibition 22 years ago at a time when the city was facing difficult circumstances. He stated that the exhibition was launched to revive confidence, project a positive image of Karachi, and promote economic activity, adding that people across the country eagerly await the My Karachi Exhibition every year.

He further stated that the Sindh Government is working wholeheartedly to improve Karachi. He recalled that during 2017–18, funds were provided to industrial town associations for the improvement of industrial estates, adding that the government continues to work in the same manner to improve the infrastructure in industrial areas. In this regard, a sum of almost Rs 10 billion has been provided to all industrial associations this year, with an incentive to utilise it by the end of June 2026. The Sindh government will only monitor, whereas the business community will implement measures to improve infrastructure in industrial zones, he added.

Syed Murad Ali Shah disclosed that more than Rs. 13 billion has also been allocated to the Mayor of Karachi for improving drainage systems and roads. The law-and-order situation in Karachi has improved significantly, and traffic flow has also improved with the introduction of e-challan systems, he noted, urging citizens to follow safety measures while driving strictly.

On plans, the Chief Minister said the Sindh Government is determined to accelerate development work in Karachi. He highlighted that the provincial government is working with the World Bank on the K-IV water project and aims to provide an additional 260 million gallons per day of water to the city. He added that work is also underway on desalination projects to address long-term water needs.

Sharing details of his discussion with the President of the World Bank, he said that the President emphasised that while governments and institutions can allocate funds, private-sector participation is essential for the success of major projects. Expressing his vision, he said he wants the private sector to work closely with the government, stressing that foreign investors will not come unless local investment comes first.

Chairman BMG Zubair Motiwala, while highly appreciating the presence of a large number of diplomats at the My Karachi Exhibition, urged the diplomatic community to project Karachi positively as a peaceful, progressive, and productive city where business activities are being conducted smoothly and confidently.

He stated that the Karachi Chamber’s My Karachi Exhibition has become a landmark and a distinct identity of the Chamber, attracting not only local participants but also foreign exhibitors. He added that the core objective of the exhibition is to portray a soft, positive image of Karachi while providing the public with an opportunity to purchase quality products at discounted rates ahead of Ramadan, thereby offering relief to consumers amid prevailing inflationary pressures.

Zubair Motiwala also appreciated the Sindh Government for undertaking numerous initiatives, particularly those aimed at improving infrastructure and strengthening healthcare services across the province. He pointed out that the Sindh Government has provided Rs. 9.46 billion to the industrial zones of Karachi for infrastructure development, expressing optimism that these funds will be utilised prudently and that the positive impact will soon be visible to Karachi’s citizens.

Commending the Sindh Government’s support and cooperation in the rehabilitation of the Gul Plaza affectees, Chairman BMG stressed that the business community must also recognise its own responsibilities. He emphasised the need to address serious shortcomings at business premises, particularly the widespread presence of loose and unorganised wiring in markets, which often becomes a major cause of fire incidents. He urged traders to adopt precautionary measures and ensure that comprehensive fire safety arrangements are in place at commercial markets across Karachi.

He observed that while the government’s timely intervention during such incidents is commendable and appreciated, it is equally important for stakeholders to proactively minimise the risk of such tragedies in the future through improved safety practices.

Referring to various development projects currently underway in Karachi, Zubair Motiwala urged the Sindh Government to expedite their completion to reduce the hardships being faced by the public on the city’s roads. He also advised the Chief Minister to allocate additional funds to the Mayor of Karachi to improve the city’s infrastructure further.

Earlier, President KCCI, Rehan Hanif, while welcoming the Chief Minister of Sindh and other distinguished guests, highly appreciated the full support and cooperation extended by the Sindh Government to Karachi Chamber in effectively handling the Gul Plaza incident. He stated that KCCI has been working with complete dedication for this noble cause, as it has in the past during the Bolton Market and Cooperative Market fire incidents, when KCCI fully compensated the affected traders with an excellent, transparent, and flawless assessment of losses.

President KCCI underscored the urgent need for strict enforcement of fire safety measures across commercial and industrial areas, along with further strengthening and equipping the fire department to enhance its operational efficiency in responding to emergencies. In this regard, he emphasised that substantially increased and extraordinary funds must be allocated to the fire department in the forthcoming Sindh Government budget.

He further stressed the importance of enhancing funding for infrastructure development in industrial zones. He called for urgent measures to address the persistent water shortages in Karachi by expediting and completing the long-delayed K-IV water supply project, which has remained pending for decades.