Gulistan-e-Johar Furniture Market Fire | Estimated Losses in Crores?

A massive fire that broke out at a furniture market in Gulistan-e-Johar around 1am destroyed several shops, leaving shop owners and daily-wage workers facing significant financial losses and an uncertain future.

Speaking to Dialogue Pakistan, affected shopkeepers and workers said the blaze reduced their businesses to ashes, wiping out their livelihoods. One resident recalled seeing flames from his house and rushing to the market, only to find that the fire had already spread considerably.

An affected shopkeeper said around 20 to 22 shops were located in the market, with estimated losses of Rs7 to 8 lakh per shop. He put the overall damage at approximately Rs2 crore. He added that each shop employed around four to five workers, all of whom had now lost their source of income.

Shop owner Asghar said he received a call around 15 minutes after the fire broke out and reached the market approximately 25 minutes later. By then, fire brigade personnel were present, but the shops and their contents had already been destroyed. He also said some people fainted after witnessing the devastation.

Asghar added that several affected workers lived in makeshift huts, while others depended on handcarts for their livelihoods. With their workplaces destroyed, many families are now facing financial uncertainty.

The affected shopkeepers said the exact cause of the fire remained unknown and called for an investigation. They also appealed to the government to provide financial assistance to shop owners and workers who have lost their livelihoods in the incident.