At least 24 people have been confirmed dead in a massive fire at a shopping mall in Karachi, the capital of Pakistan's southern Sindh province, officials said on Monday.
A spokesperson for state-run Rescue 1122 said an extensive urban search and rescue operation continued at the Gul Plaza building, which was severely damaged by the blaze. More casualties were feared as the structure remained unstable and large sections of the building had collapsed.
The blaze erupted late Saturday night at Gul Plaza, a multi-storey shopping mall located on MA Jinnah Road, which houses over 1,200 shops. It was brought under control after more than 24 hours of firefighting on Sunday.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said about 60 people who were reported to have visited the plaza were still missing.
Shah said the provincial government would provide compensation of 10 million Pakistani rupees (about 36,000 U.S. dollars) to the family of each victim.
The rescue service said a dedicated firefighting team remained engaged in cooling operations to ensure a safe working environment, while heavy machinery was being used in a controlled manner to remove debris and create access routes, rescue officials said.
According to Rescue 1122, several bodies were found badly charred or in parts due to intense heat and prolonged exposure to fire, making immediate identification difficult. Technical and forensic procedures will be used to establish identities.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, though police earlier said it was suspected to have been triggered by an electrical short circuit.
Death toll rises to 24 in shopping mall fire in Pakistan's Karachi
Death toll rises to 24 in shopping mall fire in Pakistan's Karachi
Hamas said Monday that it is "fully ready" to transfer administrative powers to a newly-formed Palestinian technocratic committee tasked with governing Gaza in the post-war phase.
The group pledged to ensure "a smooth and orderly transition" that protects public sector rights and guarantee the continuity of essential services for civilians, the Hamas-run Gaza government media office said in a statement.
The statement framed the administrative transition as part of the second phase of the Gaza peace deal, while strongly linking it to the overarching demand for a complete end to Israeli "aggression" in Gaza.
It emphasized the "inherent right" of Palestinians to reconstruction conducted in a manner that "preserves Palestinian national rights and sovereignty," and reiterated the goal of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The 15-member Palestinian technocratic committee to temporarily administer the post-war Gaza officially launched its work on Friday through a meeting in Cairo, prioritizing Gaza's "humanitarian file."
Meanwhile, violence continued in the enclave on Monday. Gaza Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal said that three Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire in separate incidents in Khan Younis and Rafah areas.
Basal said Israeli forces regularly target shelters and civilian areas, calling the actions "a clear and blatant violation of all humanitarian and international laws."
Local sources also reported Israeli airstrikes east of Khan Younis and artillery shelling in eastern Gaza, alongside the demolition of residential homes.
The Israeli side has yet to comment on the latest incidents.
Since the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel took effect in October 2025, at least 465 Palestinians have been killed, raising the total death toll since October 2023 to 71,550, Gaza-based health authorities said Monday.
Hamas says "fully ready" for power handover procedures
