Intense criticism has targeted the Sindh government and city officials for their delayed intervention. Traders and residents lament that swift action from the nearest fire station could have contained the blaze early, averting widespread devastation. Instead, operations only gained momentum Sunday morning.

The two-acre mall’s design flaws—no adequate ventilation and tightly packed shops—fueled the fire’s ferocity. Rescuers faced scorching heat that made interior access impossible for hours, complicating efforts to locate survivors.

Governor Kamran Tessori toured the site, calling the missing persons reports ‘extremely worrying,’ especially with a pregnant woman among them. He labeled it a national calamity, vowing comprehensive investigations.

Authorities have wrapped up firefighting, shifting to debris removal and cooling by joint teams including the navy. DIG Asad Raza reported the structure’s total ruin, pending official rulings from building control experts.

Hospitals treated 15 victims: most at Civil Hospital’s trauma unit, with quick discharges, and a few at Jinnah Hospital. The fire’s heat triggered partial collapses, burying potential victims under debris.

Chief fire officer Humayun Khan deployed extensive resources—20 tenders and snorkels—but admitted persistent edge fires and safety risks. Sindh Emergency Rescue 1122’s COO noted the multi-angle assault on the flames.

As searches press on, this disaster spotlights Pakistan’s inadequate emergency preparedness in commercial hubs, urging overhauls in building codes and response protocols to safeguard lives.

Traders and locals are furious, attributing the massive destruction to delayed action by fire services and city officials. Despite the proximity of the Sadar Fire Station, help arrived too late, and inadequate resources prolonged the nightmare. ‘We called repeatedly, but they cited water shortages,’ recounted a survivor who watched helplessly as smoke billowed from the building.

Reports from Dawn and Geo News paint a grim picture: the fire spread unchecked due to limited equipment, only intensifying Sunday morning. Poor road conditions on M.A. Jinnah Road further crippled the response, blocking emergency vehicles.

‘Smoke filled the air first, then fire climbed to the top floors. Timely teams could have saved everyone,’ said a young witness at the scene. Sindh provincial authorities face mounting backlash for what many call a preventable catastrophe.

With the fire now 95% doused and cooling in progress, rescue teams sift through rubble for survivors. Officials hint at an electrical fault as the trigger, but questions linger over building safety standards. This tragedy underscores Karachi’s ongoing infrastructure woes, urging immediate reforms to safeguard its vibrant business district.