KARACHI: Firefighters brought a major fire at a garment factory in Karachi’s SITE area under control late Monday night after an eight-hour operation. The third-degree blaze destroyed stored goods on the upper floors and left the building structurally weakened.

More than a dozen fire tenders, water bowsers, snorkels and Pakistan Navy personnel took part in the emergency response. Authorities have ordered an investigation into the cause of the fire and a review of fire safety arrangements in industrial areas.

Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Chief Fire Officer Humayun Khan said firefighters brought the blaze under control at around 9:15pm. However, cooling operations were expected to continue for several hours.

“More than a dozen fire tenders, three snorkels and two water bowsers participated in the rescue operation. All goods located on the second and third floors were destroyed in the blaze,” he said.

Khan added that a Pakistan Navy fire tender also assisted the operation. Plastic rolls stored across all three floors fuelled the fire, while dense smoke made firefighting difficult.

Firefighters Face Water Shortage

The fire’s intensity weakened the building’s structure, raising concerns about its stability. Firefighters used foam and water to contain the flames.

Authorities classified the incident as a third-degree fire to mobilise the required departments and resources. Earlier, KMC had deployed 11 fire tenders and two water bowsers as teams fought the blaze from inside and outside the factory.

Fire brigade officials at the scene told The Express Tribune that a shortage of water hampered firefighting efforts.

The flames spread across the factory’s second and third floors, where combustible materials included cardboard, wood, thread, garments, foam and plastic.

Water Corporation Supplies 300,000 Gallons

The Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) activated additional hydrants to maintain water supplies during the operation.

Shahbaz Bashir, focal person for the KWSC chief executive officer at the Hydrants Cell, said the corporation had supplied approximately 300,000 gallons of water to firefighting teams.

The reported supply included 210,000 gallons from Crush Plant Hydrants I and II, 40,000 gallons from Nipa, 35,000 gallons from Sakhi Hassan and 12,000 gallons from Safoora.

However, KWSC spokesperson Qadir Sheikh had earlier reported that approximately 150,000 gallons had been supplied, with another 40,000 gallons kept on standby.

The corporation said Chief Executive Officer Ahmed Ali Siddiqui directed officials to maintain emergency water supplies throughout the operation.

Sindh CM Orders Investigation

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah directed the administration and rescue authorities to mobilise additional resources, contain the fire and protect nearby buildings.

He also sought a detailed report from the Karachi commissioner and the Industries Department. The chief minister ordered a prompt investigation to determine the cause of the blaze.

In addition, he directed officials to review fire safety arrangements across industrial areas to help prevent similar incidents in the future.