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January 2026 was marked by a devastating fire at the Gul Plaza shopping mall in Karachi, which resulted in a significant loss of life. The blaze, which burned for hours and proved difficult to extinguish, trapped victims due to locked exits and a delayed emergency response. The disaster prompted a major institutional response, with rescue operations lasting over 36 hours and the mayor of Karachi announcing plans to abolish the city's current firefighting water hydrant system, tasking the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation with developing a new strategy.
Other tragic incidents across Pakistan underscored persistent safety and governance challenges. A gas cylinder explosion at a wedding in Islamabad killed eight people, including the bride and groom. In Lahore, a woman and her young daughter died after falling into an open manhole, with police subsequently investigating allegations that the woman's husband was tortured by authorities following the incident. Concurrently, a petition was filed in court against deforestation in Islamabad after reports of over 29,000 trees being removed. On a separate public health front, Pakistan initiated health screenings for travelers to check for the Nipah virus.
4 topics | 83 sources
A massive fire broke out at the Gul Plaza shopping mall in Karachi, Pakistan, killing at least 67 people. Many victims were found in a single shop, with dozens more reported missing. The fire prompted criticism of the emergency response, and firefighters worked for an extended period to fully extinguish the blaze.
A gas cylinder exploded at a wedding in Islamabad, Pakistan, killing eight people. The bride and groom, who had been married the day before, were among those killed. Separately, a petition has been filed in the Islamabad High Court against deforestation in the city. A local official, Talal Chaudhry, said over 29,000 trees have been removed but that more will be planted.
A woman and a child died after falling into an open manhole in Lahore, Pakistan. Police have launched an investigation into allegations that the woman's husband was tortured following the incident.
Pakistan has started health checks for the Nipah virus, a deadly disease. It is the latest country in Asia to put these measures in place.
0 topics | 9 sources