A fire broke out on the fourth floor of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) building in Karachi on Monday, July 8, 2024, causing concern among traders and employees. However, rescue officials report no loss of life and the fire has been brought under control.
According to Sindh Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassaan Khan, the fire initially broke out on the fourth floor of the Ali Habib Trading Company building on I.I. Chundrigar Road. The rescue team responded promptly, with two fire brigade trucks reaching the spot to douse the blaze. A snorkel and six fire brigades were also deployed to extinguish the fire.
The cooling process of the building is currently underway, and trading has resumed at the PSX after a brief suspension. The building was temporarily closed but has since reopened, with some material damage reported but no injuries or fatalities.
This incident highlights the importance of fire safety measures in commercial buildings. In February, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation informed the Sindh High Court that a fire safety audit of over 265 commercial buildings found none had a fire safety certificate or NOC issued by the fire brigade department. The report noted serious shortcomings in fire safety protocols, emphasizing the need for improved safety measures.
In a similar incident in November, a woman suffered burn injuries in a fire at a multi-storey building on I.I. Chundrigar Road. The fire had spread from the third floor to the sixth floor, but 2,000 employees were safely evacuated.
The swift response of rescue officials and firefighters averted a potential disaster at the PSX building, and an investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.
