The Sindh Cabinet on Tuesday approved the relief and rehabilitation package — announced last week — for the families of the victims of the Gul Plaza inferno in Karachi, which includes Rs10 million as financial compensation.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had earlier announced the compensation on January 19.
The deadly inferno, which erupted on the night of January 17 at the mall and took nearly two days to be fully extinguished, has claimed at least 73 lives and left over 1,100 shops in ruins.
After nine days of scouring through the rubble to locate remains of the dead and missing, the search operation concluded on Sunday.
According to a press release issued by the Chief Minister’s House today, during the meeting, the cabinet expressed grief over the loss of lives in the Gul Plaza tragedy and approved Rs10m for the families of the deceased, along with the Rs10m “interest-free loans” for shopkeepers affected by the devastating blaze.
The chief minister held that “there can be no compromise on human life. Relief, justice, and prevention must go hand in hand”.
“In addition, Rs500,000 per shopkeeper will be provided as immediate subsistence support to cover household and utility expenses,” the statement added.
During the cabinet meeting, the Sindh CM also directed that “alternative commercial spaces be provided within two months to enable shopkeepers to resume their businesses”.
The provincial cabinet also approved the constitution of a high-level subcommittee to examine the fact-finding report and take “all legal remedial actions”.
The cabinet subcommittee — chaired by CM Murad and including ministers Sharjeel Inam Memon, Nasir Hussain Shah, Saeed Ghani, and Ziaul Hassan Lanjar — would present its report in the next cabinet meeting, a notification said.
“No negligence will be overlooked. Those found responsible will be held accountable,” the CM was quoted as saying.
On January 19, CM Murad had announced that an inquiry committee headed by Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi was being set up to probe the Gul Plaza fire.
He asserted that the inquiry’s aim was not to point blame but to acknowledge and correct one’s mistakes.
Separately, the provincial cabinet also approved Rs19.116 billion for the “ immediate execution” of six major road infrastructure projects in the metropolis, the press statement said.
“These include the Star Gate flyover, Malir Halt underpass, Sohrab Goth flyover, and the reconstruction of important arteries linking M-9 to Malir and Main Korangi Road to Khayaban-i-Saadi,” it added.
“These projects are essential for easing congestion, improving road safety, and supporting Karachi’s economic activity,” CM Murad was quoted as saying.
4 more victims identified
Meanwhile, four more deceased individuals from the Gul Plaza blaze were identified, Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed said.
Hence, the number of those identified now stands at 27, out of the 73 deaths confirmed as of yet.
In a post on X, Dr Syed said 73 remains had been “medicolegally processed”, out of whom 20 had been identified through DNA matching.
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