The Russian Embassy in Pakistan has expressed its heartfelt condolences to the people of the Islamic Republic following a devastating shopping center fire in Karachi that claimed more than a dozen lives.
"The Russian Embassy conveys its sincere sympathies to the friendly people of Pakistan regarding the destructive fire at the Gul Plaza shopping mall in Karachi, as well as the tragic road accidents in the Sargodha and Gwadar districts on January 17, 2026, which resulted in numerous casualties," the diplomatic mission stated via its official Telegram channel.
The blaze broke out Sunday on the ground floor of the commercial complex, located in a densely populated district of Karachi. It took emergency services approximately 33 hours to fully extinguish the flames. Preliminary investigations suggest the fire was sparked by an electrical short circuit. According to the latest reports, 14 people have been confirmed dead, with dozens more treated for injuries.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Bilalhassan88/Creative Commons 3.0
Based on materials from TASS