One month on, Gul Plaza still awaits relief

A month after the inferno that devastated Gul Plaza, the smoke has cleared, but the uncertainty remains. For the shop owners, this day is not one of remembrance or celebration, but of hard numbers: rent that is due, pending school fees, suppliers waiting — and yet, for most, no financial aid has been received.

There were promises of aid in the immediate aftermath. Shop owners were told that compensation assessments were being made, and that relief would follow. A sum of Rs500,000 was mentioned as immediate aid. For most, this was a meager sum, but it was a lifeline nonetheless. Today, affectees claim that no aid has been received.

Khubaib, who owned Woodachi Interior at Gul Plaza, is now operating out of a smaller outlet at Gul Tijara Mall. While his former business featured dining tables, sofas, and centerpieces, he is now packing wall frames and decorative items into a smaller space.

"We are just managing," he said. "We were told that relief would follow. We are still waiting."

In the days following the tragedy, Khubaib tried to turn his grief into momentum. He shot videos, posted them on social media, and answered messages late into the night.There was sympathy and there were inquiries, but only a handful of orders.

"The emotional reaction was there," he said. "But business isn't done on an emotional level."

For Anas Sameen, who ran three shops in the basement selling handbags and purses, the last month has been suffocating. He now operates out of a corner of his brother's office in Central Plaza. His business is conducted on Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, and Facebook. His storefronts are now digital windows. However, the lack of a physical storefront is a burden.

"We can't find a good location," he said. "And even if we do, we can't pay the advance rent. We need money to start again."

Without income or compensation, restocking is a risk. Every purchase is a risk. Every sale is temporary.

The shops at Gul Plaza had steady stock before the inferno. The vendors would pay advance money to suppliers so that the goods would be delivered on time. The fire not only destroyed their merchandise but also their investments and plans.

Bilal, whose artificial flower and decoration business was the only source of income for his family, estimates that he has lost around Rs5 million.The shop was owned, not rented, built over years of saving and reinvestment. Losing it meant losing stability.

When contacted, Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) President Rehan Hanif outlined the compensation process. Financial assistance, he said, is being routed from the Sindh government through KCCI to affectees.

"This is not a delay; the work has been done very rapidly. There were over two thousand applications. We had to interview each person individually," he said.

If someone claimed Rs12 million for burnt goods, he said, the team assessed the size of the shop, the items involved and supporting documents, including import papers. Bank statements were also reviewed to gauge business volume.

If a claim of Rs12 million was assessed at Rs8.5 million, it was discussed and finalised. After signatures, data was entered into the system. "We processed two thousand such applications in just a few days," he said.

"Our teams have been working from round the clock. Even on February 17, people stayed until 10:30pm."

On the timeframe, he said payments would not be equal for everyone. "Some are set for Rs2.5 million, others for Rs30 million, depending on the individual case."