Karachi blaze kills firefighter, second family martyr

Karachi – (Special Correspondent / Web Desk) – When a massive fire ripped through Karachi’s Gul Plaza last weekend, 29-year-old firefighter Furqan Shaukat pushed further into the blazing building, even as its structure began to weaken. Witnesses say he responded to desperate cries for help from inside just moments before the plaza collapsed around him.

The category-three fire destroyed nearly 1,200 shops in one of the city’s busiest commercial areas, claimed dozens of lives, and left many people still unaccounted for. The tragedy once again highlighted the severe dangers faced by firefighters in Pakistan’s largest city, especially when tackling intense fires in tightly sealed commercial buildings built with little attention to safety standards.

Despite being home to more than 20 million people, Karachi has just over 20 fire stations and around 120 to 140 fire tenders, many of which are outdated or only partly functional, according to official estimates. The city is believed to have fewer than 2,000 firefighters, far below international standards for a megacity of this size, and lacks a citywide hydrant system and modern protective equipment.

“We heard someone shouting from inside, saying, ‘Save me,’” Shaukat’s brother, Muhammad Nauman, told Arab News. “Many people were standing outside, but Furqan said, ‘No, I have to save this man.’”

For Shaukat’s family, the pain runs deep. This was the second time they lost a loved one in the line of duty. Raised in a family closely connected to the Karachi Fire Brigade, Furqan followed in his father’s footsteps. His father served for 35 years, was left paralyzed after an on-duty incident, and later died while still in service in 2018.

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“Furqan was my youngest brother,” his sister Shumaila Shaukat said through tears. “He was kind, intelligent, and full of talent. Since childhood, he wanted to help people. We never imagined we would lose him so soon.”

Having joined the fire brigade only three years ago, Furqan was the youngest member of his team. He is survived by his wife and his infant son, Muhammad Rahim.

“Furqan dreamed of making his son a lawyer,” Shumaila said softly. “Now, I will make sure he learns the law.”

Fires inside enclosed commercial buildings like Gul Plaza are among the most dangerous scenarios firefighters face anywhere in the world. In Karachi, those dangers are magnified by overcrowded markets, illegal structural modifications, poor access routes and the absence of sprinkler systems, fire exits and heat-resistant materials.

Compounding those risks is the lack of equipment. Fire officials and court submissions have repeatedly pointed to shortages of breathing apparatus, fire-resistant suits, thermal imaging cameras and high-rise rescue training, leaving firefighters to confront extreme heat and toxic smoke with minimal protection.

On the night of the fire, Shaukat’s family remained awake, tracking updates and waiting anxiously.

“We were all restless that night,” Nauman recalled. “We knew he was in the fire, and we were all worried.”

Veteran fire officer Wajid Ali, who was working alongside Shaukat, said he spoke to him shortly before the collapse.

“He told me to be careful … I told him, ‘You do the same as you are young and a newcomer,’” Ali said.

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As the blaze intensified and the building’s integrity failed, Ali said Shaukat attempted to retreat.

“When the building collapsed his team ran away,” he said. “Furqan also tried to run but stumbled and fell. The debris fell all over him and he died because of that.”

His injuries reflected both the intensity of the fire and the lack of protective equipment.

“His entire back was burned. His face was burned. His hands were burned. His entire body was burned,” Nauman said, rejecting claims circulating online that firefighters had been idle during the operation.

Nauman said Shaukat and his colleagues were confronting a modern, high-risk blaze without the gear such conditions demand.

“Firefighters must care about their safety,” he said. “As I told you they should get a [protective] suit as we saw Furqan going inside in a uniform only.”

“What safety did he have,” he asked. “Furqan would not have burned so badly if he had some safety. Give them the equipment they need.”

Ali said fires like Gul Plaza increasingly fall into the most dangerous category, requiring specialized training, protective suits and breathing equipment, resources firefighters in Pakistan often lack.

Karachi Chief Fire Officer Muhammad Humayun Khan said negligence in basic fire-safety measures continues to fuel deadly blazes across the city.

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“If you are doing a business, then try to get a fire extinguisher or get some consultancy, there is no harm in that,” he said.

For Shaukat’s family, however, the policy failures and structural weaknesses translate into something deeply personal.

“We lost our little hero,” Shumaila said. “He left the world, but he will always be with us.”