Despite the formation of multiple committees, a judicial inquiry, and a series of official recommendations following the Gul Plaza fire tragedy, the implementation status of key directives issued by the Sindh government has yet to be made public, according to official documents reviewed by this correspondent.
The devastating fire at Gul Plaza on January 17, 2026, prompted the Sindh government to establish a one-member Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the incident. The commission’s report was subsequently placed before the provincial cabinet, which constituted a cabinet sub-committee to examine its findings.
Following the sub-committee’s deliberations, a high-level Implementation Committee headed by the provincial Law Minister, with the Ministers for Local Government and Industries as members, was formed to recommend a course of action. The committee later submitted its recommendations to the cabinet.
Subsequently, Chief Secretary Sindh chaired a high-level meeting on June 18, 2026, to review the recommendations. According to the official minutes issued on June 22, all concerned departments were directed to submit implementation and compliance reports within 15 days.
However, several weeks after the expiry of that deadline, no comprehensive official information regarding implementation of the recommendations, disciplinary proceedings or departmental compliance reports has been made public, according to the available official record and information gathered from relevant departments.
The implementation framework assigned responsibilities to the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), Fire Department, Civil Defence, Rescue 1122, district administration, Energy Department and the Gul Plaza Management Committee.
The Implementation Committee recommended amendments to the Sindh Building Control Ordinance, 1979, to empower SBCA to conduct post-construction inspections and enforce regulatory compliance after completion of buildings. It also proposed a periodic joint inspection mechanism involving SBCA, Rescue 1122, KMC, Civil Defence, Cantonment Boards and other relevant agencies for high-rise and commercial buildings.
The committee further recommended legal proceedings against SBCA officials who served between 2020 and the date of the incident and were allegedly involved in approving revised building plans, regularisation or failing to discharge inspection and regulatory responsibilities.
For KMC and its Fire Department, the committee called for strict enforcement of the Sindh Local Government Act, 2013, strengthening of firefighting capacity through specialised training, operationalisation of the Maripur Fire Station and immediate filling of vacant posts, including firefighters and drivers.
It also recommended action against relevant fire officials over alleged shortcomings in preparedness, delayed emergency response and rescue operations. Proceedings were proposed against a Central Fire Station officer over the issuance of a fire safety certificate dated March 20, 2024, allegedly without the required approval, while responsibility was also proposed to be fixed for failure to ensure compliance with violations identified in the 2021 fire audit report.
The report additionally recommended an inquiry into the extension of Gul Plaza’s lease and reduction in lease rates approved in 1991 to determine whether the then Mayor of Karachi possessed the legal authority to reduce the lease rate and condone the period between 1983 and 1991. The recommendation calls for an inquiry only and does not attribute criminal liability.
Regarding Civil Defence, the committee endorsed an earlier cabinet sub-committee recommendation to transfer peacetime functions of Civil Defence to Rescue 1122 in order to strengthen emergency response mechanisms.
The report also proposed disciplinary action against certain Civil Defence officials over the alleged issuance of questionable inspection memos during 2024 and 2025, supervisory failures and the role of nominated members serving on fire safety committees since 2020.
The district administration also came under scrutiny, with the committee observing alleged lapses by the Deputy Commissioner South, Additional Deputy Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners in supervision, monitoring and follow-up of fire safety inspections. The Chief Secretary directed the Commissioner Karachi to determine the role of district administration officers and submit a report within 15 days.
For Rescue 1122, the committee recommended further institutional strengthening under the Sindh Rescue Services Act, 2023, besides proposing responsibility be fixed on officials over alleged deficiencies in rescue support, coordination and emergency response. It also recommended legal action against nominated committee members associated with the service since 2023, where warranted.
The committee further recommended registration of the Gul Plaza Management Committee under the Sindh Condominium Act, 2014, along with strict compliance with fire safety and building maintenance requirements.
It also proposed a detailed inquiry into the affairs of the previously unregistered management committee, including examination of funds collected for building maintenance. Based on the forensic report, the committee recommended that criminal liability be examined against responsible office-bearers and other members over deficiencies including inadequate firefighting equipment, lack of water availability, blocked emergency exits, encroachments and the issuance of an allegedly questionable fire safety certificate.
The Energy Department was advised to place before the government a proposal for restoration of the electrical inspection regime that had been discontinued in 2003, enabling regular electrical inspections of buildings and commercial establishments.
The Chief Secretary directed all departments to implement the recommendations in letter and spirit, initiate disciplinary, administrative or criminal proceedings wherever required under the law, and submit compliance reports within the prescribed timeframe. The Additional Chief Secretary (Home) was assigned responsibility for monitoring implementation and submitting a consolidated compliance report to the Chief Secretary.
However, according to the official documents available and information gathered from relevant departments, details regarding implementation of these recommendations, departmental compliance reports, disciplinary proceedings or the consolidated implementation report have not yet been made public, leaving significant questions regarding the execution of the government’s post-inquiry action plan.