The Gul Plaza fire that has claimed 14 lives so far, with several missing, has now been controlled after 36 hours, Express Tribune reported. The fire has severely damaged the building, posing a high risk of collapse, and some parts have already fallen. The rescue teams continue to search for the dozens of missing people as they search through the debris. The fire broke out in the shopping centre on Saturday, January 17, 2026 and continued to claim lives and damage buildings through Sunday.
The tragedy left the nation in shock, and prayers and sentiments poured in on social media. Celebrities reacted and prayed for the victims of the devastating fire. Heartbroken over the tragic loss of life and livelihood, Actress Minal Khan took to Instagram to express her grief. She stated that we have failed the victims of Gul Plaza, as there is no accountability. Stating that the fire has not only burned the plaza but a piece of her childhood has turned to ash, she posted:
Praying for the victims, Actress Aiman Khan also posted on Instagram and said:
Actress Sajal Ali added:
Asking the people of Karachi to stay strong during the testing times, Actress Alizeh Shah stated:
Influencer couple Rabiya Kulsoom and Rehan Nazim, known as Ron and Coco, sent prayers for the victim, hoping they find the strength to overcome their loss. They posted:
Praying that the victims find the strength to heal from the tragedy, actor Naumar Ijaz posted:
Cricketer, Haris Rauf, also said:
My heart goes out to the families affected by the tragic fire at Gul Plaza, Karachi. The loss of precious lives is devastating. May they find strength in this difficult time 💔
— Haris Rauf (@HarisRauf14) January 19, 2026
Soon enough, the government was held responsible for the devastation as it was unable to control the fire for 36 hours, increasing the death toll and number of missing people. Actress Mishi Khan took to Instagram to express her anger at the lack of rescue resources in the metropolitan city. Saying that no justice will be served to the victims, she posted:
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Actress Hira Soomro said that Karachi does not deserve this weak infrastructure and poor rescue systems, and posted:
Actor Ali Abbass added that the city should choose representatives who would prioritise their lives. He posted:
Cricketer Haris Rauf added that this incident is a collective failure to protect lives. Calling the public outrage justified, he posted:
The tragedy exposed our collective failure to protect lives. Inadequate fire safety, delayed rescue, and a system that failed its people!
The cost? Precious lives, lost. Families torn apart. Dreams unfulfilled. The helplessness is suffocating. How many more lives will it take for…— Haris Rauf (@HarisRauf14) January 19, 2026
Actor Zahid Ahmad’s wife, Amna Zahid Ahmad, said that this incident exposed Karachi’s safety situation, regardless of the claims of the governing bodies. She posted:
