KARACHI: A major fire broke out at a factory in Karachi’s Export Processing Zone on Friday, prompting a large-scale response by firefighters as authorities said there were no immediate reports of casualties.
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab said fire tenders and snorkels were deployed to the site in the Landhi Export Processing Zone, with additional water bowsers brought in to help contain the blaze.
“Another big challenge for our brave firefighters,” he said in a social media post. “Fire has erupted at a factory in Export Processing Zone and our fire tenders and snorkels are present on ground to tackle the situation.”
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the incident and sought a detailed report from the Karachi commissioner, according to a statement from his office.
He issued emergency instructions to the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and fire services, directing authorities to ensure swift rescue operations and safety measures.
The chief minister also instructed officials to ensure immediate assistance to affected workers and their families and ordered a joint investigation by the administration and relevant authorities to determine the cause of the fire.
Fires are common in Karachi’s industrial areas, often blamed on faulty wiring, poor safety compliance and inadequate enforcement of building regulations.
The latest blaze comes weeks after a deadly fire at Gul Plaza Shopping Mall in January killed at least 67 people, intensifying scrutiny of fire safety and emergency preparedness in the city’s commercial and industrial buildings.
