On June 18, 2025, a massive fire broke out at Karachi’s Millennium Mall on Rashid Minhas Road, taking more than five hours to bring under control. The devastating fire engulfed the entire mall, destroying almost 500 shops and merchandise worth millions of rupees.
It began with a short circuit on the third floor, but quickly spread to the fourth, eventually consuming nearly the entire structure. The aftermath captured shows just how catastrophic the incident was.
Though the flames are no longer burning, the questions are: How much longer will Karachi continue to suffer such devastating fires? Why do these disasters keep recurring? And is there a troubling pattern behind them?
Ayesha Manzil Fire
On December 6, 2023, a massive fire broke out in a residential complex/furniture market in Karachi’s Ayesha Manzil area, damaging 25 shops and putting 450 flats at risk. The fire spread rapidly, with rescue teams citing the furniture market on the ground floor as a key factor in the fire covering the entire structure.
Shopkeepers initially attempted to control the fire on their own, which delayed their contact with to rescue team, a lapse that resulted in even greater damage.
Red Flags:
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The building had no emergency exits.
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There was no firefighting equipment on-site.
Saddar Electronic Market Fire
The Saddar Electronic Market fire happened quite recently on the 18th of June, 2025, destroying electronic items and warehouses. The fire that initially started on the rooftop of the mall, where generators and chillers were installed. It quickly spread to the third and fourth floor, damaging multiple shops.
While there was no loss of life, business owners suffered once again.
Red Flags:
- No emergency exits
- No alarms
RJ Mall Fire
Yet another mall that caught fire in November 2023, in southwestern Karachi, took the lives of 10 people and injured 22 others. The fire started early in the morning, and by the time the rescue team reached the mall, the third and fourth floors had already been engulfed in fire.
Red Flags:
- No safety equipment
- No emergency exit
- Alleged negligence of K-Electric
- A completion plan for the building was not issued
- Substantial material used in construction
Regent Plaza Fire
On December 5th, 2016, a fire broke out in Regent Plaza, a four-star hotel in Karachi. The catastrophic fire climbed multiple floors, trapping guests inside the rooms. This ultimately led the guests to use bedsheets as ropes to climb out of the windows.
11 people died in the fire and 75 were injured.
Red Flags:
- No emergency exits
- No sprinklers or fire alarms
These red flags existing in a four-star hotel is indeed a big deal.
Mehran Town Factory Fire
On 27th August, 2021, fire broke out in a chemical factory in Karachi’s Mehran Town. While rescue workers tried their best to save lives, 115 people died due to inhaling smoke.
The fire was caused by a short circuit under the staircase and quickly engulfed the building. 20 labourers wee found under the rubble the building as it collapsed.
Red Flags:
- No basic safety equipment
- The building collapsed under fire
Is there a Pattern We’re Ignoring?
Sometimes, fires are simply an accident; beyond anyone’s control. But when fires break out time and again in Karachi, they start to suggest a pattern.
Karachi has witnessed numerous catastrophic fires over the years, each reducing some of the oldest buildings of the city into ash. It’s no longer enough to call them isolated incidents. It’s time to ask the hard questions: Why do these fires keep happening?
And here’s the answer:
In all the incidents mentioned above, clear red flags and acts of negligence have been consistently overlooked by the authorities.
From the persistent absence of fire safety equipment to the lack of emergency exits and alarm systems, each shortcoming has played a critical role in the severity of these fires and the devastation that followed.
In some cases, buildings are constructed using substandard materials, and occupancy is granted without proper completion plans or safety clearances. If this isn’t a major contributing factor, then what is?
While some of these incidents fortunately result in no casualties, the financial losses are devastating. When shops burn to ashes, merchandise worth millions is destroyed, and with it, the livelihoods of those who depend on them.
For many, especially from the working and middle classes, the aftermath is unbearable, sometimes pushing them to the edge.
Karachi is the economic hub of Pakistan, yet it continues to be treated with neglect. It keeps giving, driving the country forward, but when will it receive in return? When will our authorities show commitment to Karachi? And most importantly, when will its people finally stop paying the price?
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