Fire engulfs factory in Karachi's Landhi, spreads to adjacent building

Officials said the smoke was particularly intense, with firefighting operations being conducted from outside the building. KMC Fire Brigade and Rescue 1122 teams were engaged in a joint operation, with firefighting teams from Lyari also assisting at the scene.

The blaze was later classified as a third-degree fire, prompting authorities to call in additional fire tenders. Eleven KMC fire tenders, two water bowsers and a snorkel were deployed to tackle the fire, with further tenders subsequently called in.

Two men and a woman were initially reported to be in critical condition due to suffocation,. The woman was taken to Jinnah Hospital after rescue teams and ambulances reached the scene. Also Read:Fire breaks out in Bannu hospital, no casualties reported.

Meanwhile, a Sindh Rangers spokesperson said personnel had reached the scene immediately given the severity of the fire and were assisting fire brigade and rescue teams in relief and rescue efforts.

A large contingent of Rangers was deployed to cordon off the factory, manage traffic and ensure the safety of citizens., the foremost priority was to protect human lives and prevent the fire from spreading further.

Malir senior superintendent of police (SSP) also said a large contingent of police was present at the scene and that no loss of life had been reported. He added that all workers present in the factory at the time had been evacuated before the blaze spread.

The SSP said authorities were facing no other major challenge apart from the firefighting operation.

Rescue officials declared the factory unsafe, while media personnel and citizens were barred from entering the EPZ.Last month,14 newborns were killedafter a fire broke out on the third floor of the Mother and Child Hospital at Islamabad's Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), triggering widespread outrage and demands from people and political parties for action against those responsible.

The fire prompted authorities across Pakistan to review fire-safety arrangements at healthcare facilities and other public buildings. In Sindh, afire-safetyassessment of 22 government hospitals found widespread shortcomings, including a lack of fire alarms, sprinklers and adequate firefighting equipment.

The provincial chief secretary subsequently gave departments 15 days tocertifythat public buildings under their control complied with fire-safety regulations. The tragedy also led to increased inspections and enforcement in Islamabad.

The CDAsealedthree buildings over fire-safety violations and later conducted afire drillat Parliament House, while the Islamabad High Court sought a government report on fire-safety audits and mandatory NOCs for buildings in the capital. Punjab alsoorderedfresh safety checks following the fire at PIMS.

The provincial health regulator directed public and private hospitals to strengthen emergency preparedness, conduct fire-safety audits and hold regular drills, while Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz ordered reviews of firefighting equipment, emergency exits, hydrants and electrical systems at public health facilities.