February 16, 2026Karachi's ongoing cycle of devastating fires, exemplified by the Gul Plaza tragedy, highlights systemic failures in safety regulations and enforcement. The deadly fire at Gul Plaza in Saddar on 17th January fits this pattern with unsettling precision. Nor was Gul Plaza the first such incident. What makes Gul Plaza particularly troubling is not that it revealed unknown problems, but that it demonstrated how little has changed. Whether Gul Plaza becomes another footnote or a turning point depends less on promised inquiries than on political will.

Source: Pakistan Today February 16, 2026 19:05 UTC