A fire at a furniture market near Kamran Chowrangi in Gulistan-e-Johar was brought under control after firefighting efforts, with no casualties reported and financial losses still being assessed.
KARACHI, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK : A fire broke out at a furniture market near Kamran Chowrangi in Karachi’s Gulistan-e-Johar area, damaging shops and spreading to an adjoining residential building before firefighters brought the blaze under control.
The fire occurred overnight, prompting an emergency response involving four fire tenders and a water bowser. Firefighters controlled the flames and began cooling operations to reduce the risk of the fire reigniting. No casualties were reported by Chief Fire Officer Humayun Khan.
The fire also affected a nearby residential building, but the blaze there was brought under control. Authorities have not yet established the cause of the incident or confirmed the total financial losses.
Traders Report Heavy Financial Losses
A shopkeeper, identified as Asghar, said the market had around 20 shops and claimed the fire had caused losses worth crores of rupees. He also alleged that firefighters arrived approximately 15 to 20 minutes after the incident was reported, by which time the flames had spread through the market. These figures and the account of the response have not been independently established.
Market Previously Hit by Fire
The furniture market near Kamran Chowrangi experienced another major fire on December 31, 2024. That incident destroyed more than 30 shops, although officials did not establish the cause.
The latest incident has renewed concerns about fire safety in Karachi’s commercial areas, particularly where furniture and other combustible goods are stored close to residential buildings.
Following a deadly fire at Gul Plaza earlier in 2026, Sindh authorities ordered fire-safety inspections of commercial and other buildings. A subsequent inspection drive highlighted widespread gaps in fire-safety arrangements across parts of Karachi.
For the latest Kamran Chowrangi incident, the cause of the fire and the final extent of the damage remain unknown. Further official findings are needed to determine how the blaze started and whether safety deficiencies contributed to its spread.
