ISLAMABAD: A senior administration official in Islamabad announced on Wednesday authorities were utilizing all available resources to extinguish a fire that broke out at a weekly market in the capital and gutted over 500 shops, with no loss of life reported so far.
The Sunday Market, also known as Itwar Bazaar, is a popular open-air market in the federal capital, offering a wide variety of goods including clothing, household items, fresh produce and electronics at affordable rates.
Initial reports indicate the fire started in the garments section before spreading to stalls dedicated to crockery and utensils.
“All available resources are being utilized to extinguish the fire,” said Islamabad’s Deputy Commissioner, Mohsin Ali Randhawa, in a statement.
Ten fire brigade vehicles from the Islamabad administration were deployed at the site, with additional assistance sought from the Pakistan Navy, Air Force and Rawalpindi administration.
While the Islamabad district administration has formed a committee to determine what caused the blaze and assess the damage, more than 500 shops have been gutted by the flames.
The market spans 25 acres and features over 2,700 shops.
Senior district administration officials also promised to compensate traders for their losses while seeking their cooperation in the aftermath of the incident.
