A search operation at Gul Plaza on Karachi’s MA Jinnah Road has led to the recovery of three digital video recorders (DVRs), raising hopes of fresh clues into the cause of the deadly fire, officials said on Friday.

Urban Search and Rescue teams recovered the DVRs from rooms located near the mosque area of the fire-hit building while clearing debris, authorities confirmed.

Officials said the footage stored on the devices is expected to help investigators assess fire safety arrangements inside the building and determine where and how the blaze originated.

The recordings may also identify individuals who last entered the premises and those who exited before and after the incident, which could prove critical to the investigation.

Technical and forensic experts will now conduct a detailed examination of the DVRs to establish the cause of the fire and assign responsibility, officials added.

Administrative lapses

Meanwhile, serious administrative lapses have come to light within the Karachi Fire Brigade, which has been operating without a permanent fire chief for over a year.

Officials said the department is currently being run under a “look-after charge” arrangement.

The last chief fire officer, Ishtiaq Ahmed, retired in 2024. Later that year, Humayun Khan was given an additional charge despite not being part of the fire brigade’s seniority list.

A court, in August 2025, ordered the appointment of a senior officer as chief fire officer within three months based on seniority, but the directive was not implemented by the Karachi mayor and the KMC, sources said.

It was further revealed that Humayun Khan, who leads the Urban Search and Rescue team primarily tasked with disaster management, was promoted directly from grade 12 to grade 17.

Sources said he also does not meet the prescribed educational qualifications for the post.

Officials also disclosed that trained sniffer dogs used for locating human remains, purchased by the city government from the military in 2008 at a cost exceeding Rs700,000, are currently missing from the Urban Search and Rescue unit.

Separately, the Sindh government has prepared an initial rehabilitation plan for Gul Plaza victims, including temporary commercial spaces for affected shopkeepers, assessment of losses, and reconstruction options.

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has announced financial assistance of Rs550,000 for each affected shopkeeper and pledged reconstruction of the damaged shops.

Earlier, the provincial government had also announced compensation of Rs10 million per victim for families of those who lost their lives in the incident.