Fire at Saddar Mobile Market in Karachi brought under control

A major fire broke out at the Mobile Market near Saddar’s Electronic Market on Jahangir Road close to Al-Najibi Building, marking the second blaze at a commercial centre in Karachi within days and raising fresh concerns over fire safety in densely packed business districts.

According to Rescue 1122 officials, reports were received about people being trapped inside the building, prompting immediate entry by rescue teams as an evacuation operation began. Edhi ambulances and relief volunteers also reached the scene to assist.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah took immediate notice of the incident and contacted the Karachi Mayor, Karachi commissioner and the Sindh Police inspector general. He directed authorities that the first priority must be the evacuation of any trapped individuals. “At all costs, human lives should be saved, then property,” the chief minister instructed, ordering police to ensure crowd management so firefighting operations could proceed smoothly.

He directed that water bowsers be supplied to fire brigades without delay and emphasized coordinated rescue work involving municipalities, administration, police, Fire Brigade, Tower authorities and the Water Board.

The Karachi Water Corporation imposed an emergency at Nipa, Safoora and Sakhi Hassan hydrants on the instructions of CEO Ahmed Ali Siddiqui. Water tankers were dispatched immediately, while Hydrants Cell In-charge Ayaz Hussain Tanio and CEO’s focal person Shahbaz Bashir personally supervised uninterrupted water supply to firefighting teams. Officials said tankers would continue operating until the fire was fully extinguished.

Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab and the commissioner reached the site, where Chief Fire Officer Humayun Khan briefed them on the situation as people were evacuated from the building.

Rescue 1122 confirmed that at least two people were rescued, suffering from suffocation, and were provided on-site medical treatment.

Later, officials said the fire had been brought under control and a cooling process was underway. One person was evacuated from inside the structure during the final phase of the operation.

Chief Fire Officer Humayun Khan stated that timely information helped firefighters respond quickly, preventing major damage. However, three vehicles parked inside the building were damaged in the blaze.

The latest incident comes just days after another fire at a commercial centre in the city, intensifying scrutiny over emergency preparedness and safety arrangements in Karachi’s crowded markets.