Murad Ali Shah has said the Sindh government is still fixing administrative and regulatory problems that existed before the 18th Amendment, rejecting demands to declare Karachi a federal territory after the deadly Gul Plaza fire.
Speaking on the floor of the Sindh Assembly, the chief minister stressed that the tragedy was being unnecessarily politicised. He acknowledged the scale of the loss while urging restraint, saying blame should not be shifted through emotional or politically motivated arguments.
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Meanwhile, authorities confirmed that the death toll from the fire that broke out on January 17 has risen to 71. Police Surgeon Dr Samia Syed stated that rescue and recovery efforts continued as officials worked to identify victims and support grieving families affected by the disaster.
Explaining the building’s history, the chief minister said all key approvals for Gul Plaza were granted decades earlier. He detailed that construction permissions, lease renewals, and shop regularisation were approved between 1979 and 2003, well before constitutional changes were introduced.
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Furthermore, Murad Ali Shah announced that the damaged structure would be demolished and rebuilt within two years. He assured shop owners they would receive the same number of shops, while families of victims would be paid Rs10 million each.
To support traders, the Sindh government has arranged 850 temporary shops rent-free for one year and promised immediate financial aid. Additionally, the government will provide collateral-backed loans of up to Rs10 million, covering interest costs to help businesses recover.