KARACHI: A large fire broke out at Imtiaz Superstore in Clifton’s Zamzama area early Monday, officials said. The blaze was brought under control after hours of firefighting and rescue operations.
Police said CCTV footage indicated that the fire started in an ATM at the store. Staff tried to control it initially but later called the fire brigade and police.
Clifton Station House Officer Naseer Tanoli said the fire spread quickly due to the store’s fiber walls and the presence of clothing and other materials. Despite the blaze, most goods and seven cars parked in the basement were saved.
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab said around 25 people were rescued safely. He added that the store’s solar panels and other important equipment remained safe, and fire teams had broken through walls to disperse smoke.
Chief Fire Officer Humayun Khan said the building’s fire safety system was “not active,” and the false ceiling made firefighting more difficult.
Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassaanul Haseeb Khan said the fire started around 5:38am, likely due to a short circuit in the ATM. It spread to the basement, where flammable materials such as cooking oil, cosmetics, and plastics were stored, before moving to the mezzanine, first, and second floors.
The spokesperson added that cooling work was ongoing, and some small patches of flames remained under control. He said the roof, where solar panels were installed, remained intact, but most of the store’s goods were destroyed.
Karachi Traffic Police issued an advisory due to fire brigade vehicles on site, asking the public to drive safely.
Gian Chand Essrani, Adviser to the Sindh Chief Minister on Rehabilitation, said a transparent investigation would follow once the fire was fully extinguished.
Separately, on Sunday, a fire broke out in a container-mounted trailer in Karachi’s Federal B Area. Rescue 1122 said the trailer’s front portion was badly damaged, but firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze.
