Sindh forms panel to implement Gul Plaza fire inquiry report

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Thursday reviewed the Judicial Commission’s report on the Gul Plaza fire tragedy and directed the formation of a high-level ministerial committee to examine the findings and oversee implementation of its recommendations.

Officials informed the chief minister that the fire at Gul Plaza shopping centre broke out on January 17, 2026. After the incident, a cabinet subcommittee was set up to prepare the Terms of Reference for an inquiry. Those ToRs were later shared with the Sindh High Court, and a formal notification for a one-member Commission of Inquiry was issued on February 4.

The commission, headed by Justice Agha Faisal, carried out site visits and hearings from February 16 to March 25 before submitting its report to the Sindh government on April 7.

The building did not have an effective firefighting system, proper alarm and communication arrangements, or adequate evacuation measures. The report also pointed to delays in alerting the fire brigade and said the emergency response fell well short of prescribed standards. It held multiple stakeholders responsible for the failures identified during the inquiry.

Following the report, the provincial government constituted a high-level implementation committee to supervise execution of the inquiry findings and ensure accountability.

Home and Law Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar has been named convener of the committee. Local Government, Housing and Town Planning Minister Nasir Hussain Shah and Industries and Commerce Minister Ikramullah Dharejo will serve as members, while Additional Chief Secretary Home Iqbal Memon will act as member-secretary.

Under its Terms of Reference, the committee has been assigned to develop a comprehensive plan for implementing the commission’s recommendations, suggest corrective steps in light of the causes and shortcomings identified in the report, and ensure coordination among all relevant departments. It will also monitor progress, keep the government informed of developments, and may co-opt experts or relevant officials when required.

Speaking on the occasion, Lanjar said the government was committed to institutional reforms, enforcement of safety standards and fixing responsibility to prevent similar incidents in the future. He said no negligence would be tolerated and that strict legal action would be taken against those found responsible. He added that the implementation committee was an important step toward ensuring justice for the victims and reflected the government’s resolve to protect the lives and property of citizens.

Polio review meeting

In a separate development, the provincial government reported progress in anti-polio efforts, with 76 per cent of environmental surveillance sites testing negative for the virus, described as the most significant improvement in the past three years.

The update was shared during a meeting of the Provincial Task Force on Polio Eradication chaired by the chief minister. Murad directed the health department to conduct a province-wide anti-polio campaign from April 13 to 19, 2026.

The campaign is aimed at administering polio drops to around 10.5 million children under the age of five in 30 districts and 1,708 union councils.

The Emergency Operations Centre told the meeting that Karachi division had shown notable improvement, with 10 of its 12 sites now testing negative. Other divisions also recorded steady progress, while Sukkur division achieved fully negative status.