KARACHI: In response to the catastrophic fire that ravaged Gul Plaza on M.A. Jinnah Road, resulting in significant loss of life and the destruction of a major commercial center, the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) convened an urgent meeting on Sunday. The meeting led to the creation of the Gul Plaza Fire Incident Committee, tasked with coordinating relief efforts, assessing the damage, and formally appealing to the government for compensation and rehabilitation for the affected traders.

According to Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Committee was established by Chairman Businessmen Group (BMG) Zubair Motiwala, with Vice Chairman BMG Jawed Bilwani and KCCI President Rehan Hanif appointed as joint chairmen. The Committee includes various notable figures such as Vice Chairmen BMG Anjum Nisar, Mian Abrar Ahmed, and Tariq Yousuf, alongside other key members from KCCI and the Gul Plaza Association.

The BMG and KCCI leadership expressed their condolences to the families of the deceased and pledged solidarity with traders who suffered significant losses. They noted the Chamber’s immediate coordination with the Sindh Government and local authorities to ensure swift rescue operations.

The primary focus of the newly formed Committee is to provide medical care to the injured and support bereaved families. The Committee is also working on immediate relief measures, including identifying temporary storage for salvaged goods. Preliminary assessments indicate that over 1,000 shops were destroyed, inflicting severe financial losses on traders.

KCCI has made a strong appeal to the federal and provincial governments, including top officials like President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, for a special compensation package for the affected shopkeepers. They cited the successful compensation efforts following past incidents, such as the Bolton Market arson, as a precedent.

The KCCI leadership reiterated their commitment to supporting the traders throughout this crisis, emphasizing the Chamber's role in previous emergencies. They assured that KCCI would leverage its expertise to ensure a transparent assessment and compensation process for the Gul Plaza fire victims.