Gul Plaza: A Legacy That Lives On
For decades, Gul Plaza on M.A. Jinnah Road was Karachi's most iconic shopping complex, with 1,200+ shops, 6 floors, and thousands of livelihoods. On the night of January 17, 2026, a devastating fire changed everything.
Gul Plaza Bazar is our way of keeping the spirit of this legendary market alive, bringing the original shopkeepers and their products online.
January 17, 2026: The Gul Plaza Fire
A fire broke out on the ground floor at approximately 10:15 PM and spread rapidly through the building via air-conditioning ducts. 80 lives were lost and over 1,200 shops were destroyed. Economic losses exceeded Rs. 3 billion. The Sindh Government declared it a national tragedy.
Gul Plaza: Karachi's Commercial Heart
Built in 1979 on M.A. Jinnah Road, Saddar, Gul Plaza was one of Karachi's most recognizable commercial landmarks. Adjacent to the 13-storey Rimpa Plaza, it housed over 1,200 active shops across a basement, ground floor, mezzanine, and three upper floors, totaling over 70,000 square feet.
From garments and electronics to crockery, cosmetics, and artificial flowers, Gul Plaza was the destination for Karachi's wedding shoppers and wholesale buyers alike. During Ramadan and wedding seasons, the mall would see thousands of customers daily.
Urban planners noted it as one of the better-designed shopping complexes in Karachi, yet like so many buildings of its era, it lacked modern fire safety: no sprinklers, no alarm system, no evacuation plan.
“Gul Plaza Bazar is our initiative to keep the shopkeepers of this legendary market connected to their customers, so that the spirit of Gul Plaza continues, even as the building is rebuilt.”
Gul Plaza Shopping Complex
M.A. Jinnah Road, Saddar, Karachi
Then & Now
Gul Plaza as it was, and what remains after the January 2026 fire.
Before the Fire: Gul Plaza in Its Glory
After the Fire: January 2026
Source: Dawn
The Night of the Fire
A timeline of events that devastated one of Karachi's most loved commercial landmarks.
Fire breaks out at Shop No. 193, "New Tawakal Flower & Gift Shop" (artificial flowers), near Gate No. 6, ground floor.
Electricity cut as a precaution, plunging the entire building into darkness. An estimated 2,000–2,500 people inside panic.
CCTV footage shows smoke spreading through the building via air-conditioning ducts.
Visible flames break out across multiple floors. The mezzanine floor traps many, with iron-grill shops locked; suffocation causes most fatalities.
After ~36 hours of continuous firefighting by KMC Fire Brigade, Rescue 1122, and Pakistan Navy, the fire is finally brought under control.
Why Gul Plaza Bazar?
After the fire, over 1,200 shopkeepers lost their physical shops overnight: their livelihoods, their stock, and their ability to reach customers.
Gul Plaza Bazar was created to bridge that gap by bringing verified shopkeepers online so they can continue selling while the physical rebuilding takes place.
Every purchase you make directly supports a fire-affected shopkeeper and their family.
Government Response
Explore the Mall Floor-by-Floor
Gul Plaza spanned six levels. SBCA approved 1,102 shops across these floors.
Basement
175 approved shops175 original Gul Plaza shops, now selling online on Gul Plaza Bazar.
Ground Floor
355 approved shops355 original Gul Plaza shops, now selling online on Gul Plaza Bazar.
Mezzanine
Mezzanine level shops, original Gul Plaza shopkeepers now online.
1st Floor
188 approved shops188 original Gul Plaza shops, now selling online on Gul Plaza Bazar.
2nd Floor
193 approved shops193 original Gul Plaza shops, now selling online on Gul Plaza Bazar.
3rd Floor
191 approved shops191 original Gul Plaza shops, now selling online on Gul Plaza Bazar.
Why Buy From Gul Plaza Online?
The same trusted shopkeepers, the same wholesale prices, now at your doorstep anywhere in Pakistan.
Cash on Delivery (COD)
Pay zero upfront. Pay cash at your doorstep only when your items arrive safely anywhere in Pakistan.
100% Verified Sellers
Every merchant is a verified, original shopkeeper from the physical Gul Plaza mall, no ghost shops.
Support Fire Victims
Every purchase directly supports a Gul Plaza shopkeeper who lost their physical shop in the January 2026 fire.
Register Your Shop Online!
Are you a Gul Plaza shopkeeper affected by the fire? Register your shop today, upload your products, and continue selling across Pakistan while the physical rebuilding takes place.
Register Your Shop NowLocation & Contact
Physical Location
Gul Plaza, M.A. Jinnah Road, Saddar, Karachi, 74400, Sindh, Pakistan. (Adjacent to Rimpa Plaza)
Open in Maps →Online Store
Available 24/7, browse and order anytime. Orders processed Monday–Saturday.