Karachi remains in deep shock following the devastating fire at the iconic yet poorly equipped Gul Plaza, which claimed 29 lives over the weekend.

As rescue efforts continue and families wait anxiously for news of their loved ones, actor Yasir Hussain has voiced a concern shared by many citizens: what is being done to prevent such tragedies in the future?

In an Instagram story posted on Wednesday, Hussain expressed grief over the loss of life and questioned whether meaningful steps are being taken to ensure fire safety in Karachi’s countless shopping plazas and small malls.

He pointed to familiar issues cited after the tragedy overcrowded buildings, excessive floors and shops, flammable inventory, lack of firefighting equipment, obstructed roads, and an under-resourced fire brigade noting that these conditions exist in many other commercial buildings across the city.

“What happens if, God forbid, this occurs elsewhere?” he asked. “What preparations are in place, and what plans exist for the future?”

Karachi’s painful history with fires adds urgency to these questions. Just a day before the Gul Plaza incident, another major blaze broke out at the port, requiring naval assistance to control it.

While lives were spared in that case, it underscored the city’s ongoing vulnerability. Multiple major fires within weeks are not anomalies but symptoms of deeper structural and administrative failures.

Although fire safety audits have been ordered in other provinces, Karachi has so far seen little beyond promises of compensation.

As the city struggles with deteriorating infrastructure, weak enforcement of safety laws, and widespread neglect, the Gul Plaza tragedy stands as a solemn reminder that accountability, preparedness, and prevention must replace reactive responses before more lives are lost.