A massive fire erupted at Karachi’s Millennium Mall on Rashid Minhas Road in the early hours of Tuesday, reducing over 500 shops to ashes before firefighters could extinguish the flames after several hours. Rescue officials confirmed that the blaze started due to a short circuit in the mall’s third-floor surveillance system and rapidly spread, fueled by the absence of proper fire safety mechanisms.
Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassaanul Haseeb stated that their team arrived within 15 minutes of receiving the emergency call at 4:05 AM. A security guard informed them that the fire had broken out in the control room before engulfing the roof, where centrally air-conditioned chillers worsened the flames. The intensity of the fire was so severe that it reached nearby buildings, including Saima Mall and Residency, raising fears of further destruction.
Despite the challenges, 12 fire tenders and two snorkels managed to control the blaze after relentless efforts. Haseeb revealed that the three-story mall’s top floor was completely destroyed, while the first and second floors suffered partial damage. Each floor housed over 150 shops, with an estimated 500-600 shops severely affected, leading to substantial financial losses.
This incident has reignited concerns over Karachi’s poor fire safety infrastructure. In November 2023, experts warned that 90% of the city’s buildings lack proper fire prevention systems. The Millennium Mall fire underscores the urgent need for stricter safety regulations to prevent such disasters in the future. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in this incident.