A preliminary report from the Fire Brigade Department revealed that the R.J. Shopping Mall in Karachi’s Gulistan-i-Jauhar area did not have a public safety system in place when it caught fire over the weekend. At least 11 people died and five others were injured due to the blaze, which started at 6:20am on Saturday. The fire began on the fourth floor and spread to other areas of the building, and officials noted that the lack of ventilation contributed to the deaths. An FIR was registered, and the report criticized the lack of fire safety equipment and emergency exits in the mall. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab said that the Cantonment Board Faisal should have been responsible for putting out the fire, and emphasized the need for proactive safety measures and cooperative problem-solving among institutions. Wahab also addressed the issue of unsafe buildings in the city, which continues to put residents at risk. Experts at a recent symposium also highlighted the lack of fire protection in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings in Karachi, citing the negligence of regulatory bodies as a significant factor in endangering people’s lives.