Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Friday announced a wide-ranging relief, rehabilitation and accountability plan for victims of the Gul Plaza tragedy, telling the Sindh Assembly that affected families and traders would not be left alone and that all those responsible would be punished.

Addressing the provincial assembly, the chief minister said heirs of those killed would be given Rs10 million each, while every affected shopkeeper would receive immediate subsistence assistance of Rs500,000.

He also announced interest-free loans of up to Rs10 million for traders and compensation for damaged goods.

CM Shah said the Gul Plaza building would be demolished and rebuilt in its original form, stressing that the number of shops would remain exactly the same.

“Not a single shop will be reduced or added,” he said.

He informed the house that more than 300 buildings across the city had already been inspected following the tragedy.

An FIR would be registered in the Gul Plaza incident, and strict action would be taken against all those found responsible, regardless of their position.

Outlining rehabilitation measures, the chief minister said two buildings had been identified to temporarily relocate shopkeepers, one housing 500 shops and another 350.

Traders will be provided with shops free of charge within the next two months and will not be charged rent for one year.

Providing a timeline of the incident, CM Shah said the fire broke out on the ground floor of Gul Plaza at 10:14 a.m., while authorities were informed at 10:26 a.m. The Karachi commissioner reached the site by 10:30 a.m. He described the incident as a national tragedy that had saddened the entire country.

He told lawmakers that 82 missing persons reports were initially filed. So far, 61 bodies have been recovered, while 15 people remain missing. DNA profiling of 52 victims is currently underway.

The chief minister acknowledged negligence and systemic failures, warning that if negligence by any government department or official, including his own administration, was proven, strict punishment would follow.

He urged political forces to avoid exploiting the tragedy for political gain, calling such behaviour unethical.

CM Shah also detailed the regulatory history of Gul Plaza, stating that the building’s lease was approved in 1991 when it comprised a basement, ground floor and two upper floors.

A fresh application was submitted to the KBC in 1998, and additional shops were approved in 2003. He added that the building was originally granted a 99-year lease in 1884, which expired in 1983 and was never renewed.

During the session, Opposition Leader Ali Khurshidi called for the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the tragedy, saying lessons must be learned to prevent similar incidents.

Following the chief minister’s speech, lawmakers from the MQM and Jamaat-e-Islami stood at their seats in protest. The assembly session was later adjourned until January 26.