Fire breaks out at Karachi furniture market near Kamran Chowrangi
The Karachi furniture market fire caused panic among shopkeepers and residents in the area. The incident took place in Gulistan-e-Johar, where flames quickly spread through the market and reached an adjoining residential building.
Rescue sources said four fire tenders and a water bowser took part in the firefighting operation. Firefighters managed to control the blaze and started cooling the affected area to prevent it from starting again.
Chief Fire Officer Humayun Khan confirmed that no casualties had been reported. However, the cause of the fire and the total financial losses have not yet been officially determined.
Shopkeepers Claim Fire Engines Arrived Late
A shopkeeper named Asghar told the media that the market had around 20 shops. He claimed that the Kamran Chowrangi fire caused losses worth crores of rupees.
According to him, the incident was reported to Karachi police’s Madadgar-15 helpline. However, he alleged that fire tenders took around 15 to 20 minutes to reach the location. By that time, the flames had already spread across the market.
The shopkeeper’s claim has raised concerns about emergency response times. The Gulistan-e-Johar fire also highlights the risks faced by traders when fires break out in crowded commercial areas.
Asghar added that the market had also caught fire last year. He said the shops were operating on a commercial plot.
Market Was Hit by Fire Before
The latest Karachi furniture market fire has renewed concerns because the same market suffered a major fire on December 31, 2024.
During that incident, more than 30 shops were reportedly destroyed. Officials had not determined the cause of the earlier fire, and no casualties were reported.
The repeated incidents have raised questions about fire prevention measures at the market. Traders may face serious financial difficulties if their furniture, equipment and other goods have been destroyed.
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The Kamran Chowrangi fire has once again drawn attention to the need for better safety arrangements in commercial markets. Residents also faced risks when the flames reached a nearby building.
Karachi’s Fire Safety Measures Under Scrutiny
Fire safety in Karachi’s commercial buildings has received greater attention following the deadly Gul Plaza fire in January 2026.
After that tragedy, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah ordered a province-wide fire safety audit of major government, private and commercial buildings. He also approved the return of annual safety inspections, which had been stopped years earlier.
An earlier audit by the Sindh Building Control Authority found that 90% of the buildings surveyed in Karachi’s eastern, central and southern districts lacked fire safety arrangements.
The authority issued notices to more than 300 building owners, warning that buildings could be sealed if they failed to install the required safety equipment.
In February, the district administration also sealed two major commercial buildings in Saddar for violating fire safety rules.
The latest Gulistan-e-Johar fire has again highlighted the importance of regular inspections and emergency preparations. Authorities will need to establish the cause of the incident and assess the damage.
