Fire brought under control at electronics market in Karachi's Saddar

Sindh CM summons report, orders immediate rescue and relief operations

A fire that broke out at the Al Najeebi electronic market in Karachi's Saddar was brought under control on Monday with cooling underway.

A statement from Rescue 1122 said that the Fire Brigade, along with rescue teams and an ambulance, was dispatched to scene after the information was received.

Videos showed that the fire broke out in the parking of the building and enveloped several vehicles in flames.

Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassaan Ul Haseeb Khan said in an update that the fire had been brought under control and the cooling process was underway. He said all people were safely evacuated with a search for more underway as the department had managed to gain entry into the building, adding that two people were affected and had fell unconscious from the smoke.

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The spokesperson said the two individuals were provided medical aid and were out of danger.

"Situation of the fire is under control so far and KMC fire tenders with snorkel are present on ground to tackle situation. People are being evacuated as we speak," Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab also said on X.

Situation of the fire is under control so far and KMC fire tenders with snorkel are present on ground to tackle situation. People are being evacuated as we speak. Will keep everyone posted

— Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui (@murtazawahab1) February 2, 2026

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah congratulatesd the fire and rescue personnel for controlling the flames.

"Work diligently to ensure safety of life and property in accidents and incidents. Crowd management should be further improved on reports of such incidents and accidents. In view of possible future accidents, traffic flow should be ensured on surrounding roads," the chief minister said.

He had earlier taken immediate notice of the incident and sought a report from the Karachi commissioner. CM Shah had also contacted the Karachi mayor, commissioner and police chief.

"First priority is that if people are trapped in the market, they should be evacuated first. Human lives should be saved at all costs, then property should be saved.

"Police should conduct crowd management so that firefighting work can be done properly. Ensure timely delivery of water to fire brigades from bowsers. Carry out rescue work with municipalities, administration and police teamwork," the chief minister was quoted as saying in a statement.

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It added that he ordered the personnel to work and coordinate together with other departments to handle the rescue operation properly.

Sindh Inspector General of Police Javed Alam Odho ordered the South senior superintendent of police and Traffic superintendent of police to reached the site and gave orders to clear the passage for relief vehicles.

He also ordered the safety of other shops and markets nearby the main affected building. 

The incident comes two weeks after a blaze at Gul Plaza shopping mall that has taken 80 lives so far.

Later, Murtaza Wahab arrived at the market to supervise the operation in person. He inspected the rescue work after climbing onto a snorkel lift alongside Mobile Market Association President Muhammad Minhaj Gulfam.

Wahab praised the response and said the building association had also kept firefighting equipment on hand, which helped contain the flames. He said traffic congestion remained a major challenge for rescue work and urged the public to cooperate.

Gulfam said: “Due to the timely action of rescue teams, the fire was brought under control. The fire brigade’s role has been extremely important. We are grateful to the mayor of Karachi.” 

He said the administration had learned from past incidents and that fire brigade staff reached the site within minutes. “Today, goods worth billions of rupees were saved and, more importantly, precious human lives were protected in a better manner,” he added.

Gulfam said 200 to 250 people were safely evacuated and that cooling operations were continuing after the fire was controlled. 

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Chief Fire Officer Humayun Khan told the media that the fire had been brought under control, adding that three vehicles inside the building were damaged. He said firefighters began the operation promptly and that timely reporting helped prevent greater losses.

On the night of January 17, a devastating fire broke out at Gul Plaza, a multi-storey building on Karachi’s MA Jinnah Road. The blaze, which reportedly started on the ground floor, quickly spread through the building, leaving dozens injured, while several bodies remain unidentified.

In the aftermath, political tensions in the city have escalated, with calls for federal or military oversight, a judical inquiry of the matter and a sharp exchange of accusations between the Muutahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan and the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party in Sindh.