Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has announced Rs10 million compensation each for the families of Gul Plaza fire victims and rehabilitation and of all the shopkeepers. Chairing a special meeting regarding Gul Plaza fire incident in Karachi on Monday, CM Murad Ali Shah said that the Gul Plaza building will now be rebuilt. The chief minister said he wanted to take steps for the rehabilitation of all 1,200 affectees because all of them became unemployed overnight.

The operation to remove the debris should be started immediately, he ordered. Sindh Chief Minister formed a committee for the victims of Gul Plaza. During the meeting Sindh CM was briefed by Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi on the fire tragedy. Meeting was informed that 15 bodies have been retrieved from Gul Plaza so far and estimated number of deaths may be more than 50.

The fire has been extinguished and cooling process was under way. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab informed the meeting that 16 fire tenders and a buzzer worked to extinguish the fire. Murtaza Wahab informed that 50 to 60 firefighters participated in the operation while Water Board continued to provide water tankers to extinguish the fire. So far, Water Board provided 431,000 gallons of water to extinguish the fire, Murtaza Wahab said.

Advisor to Sindh CM on Rehabilitation Gyanchand Asrani also briefed the meeting. In the meeting, traders gave various suggestions to the Sindh Chief Minister regarding Gul Plaza and they agreed with CM Murad that shopkeepers should be restored immediately so that their employment can start.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)