Karachi garment factory fire extinguished after 4-hour battle

A Karachi garment factory fire that broke out near Habib Bank Chowrangi in the city’s SITE area late Sunday night was extinguished early Monday morning after a four-hour firefighting operation. Officials confirmed no casualties, as everyone inside the factory evacuated safely before the blaze intensified. Chief Fire Officer Muhammad Humayun Khan said the exact cause of the fire is still unknown and will be investigated once cooling operations are complete.

Key Facts

• Location: a garment factory near Habib Bank Chowrangi, SITE Town, Karachi.
• Timeline: the fire broke out at about 11:20 PM on Sunday, October 4, and was brought under control around 3:20 AM on Monday, October 5 – a roughly four-hour operation.
• Casualties: none – officials confirmed everyone inside evacuated safely.
• Fuel: plastic granules, plastic rolls, rubber and fibre stored on the second floor intensified the flames.
• Response: 12 fire tenders, one snorkel, three water bowsers and six water tankers, with foam used to suppress the flames, according to fire officials.
• Water supply: the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation supplied about 150,000 gallons through government hydrants.

Blaze breaks out near Habib Bank Chowrangi

The fire started at approximately 11:20 PM on Sunday night in the roughly 2,500-square-yard facility and spread quickly to the factory’s second floor, where large quantities of combustible material – plastic granules, plastic rolls, rubber and fibre – were stored. The plastic granules, used in the manufacture of shopping bags, burned fiercely and produced dense smoke, complicating the firefighters’ initial access to the building. The factory also produced garments and mattresses, adding to the fuel load.

Four-hour battle to contain the Karachi garment factory fire

Bringing the blaze under control required a major deployment: 12 fire tenders, one snorkel, three water bowsers and six water tankers, with foam used to suppress the flames, according to fire officials. The Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation ensured an uninterrupted supply of water, dispatching about 150,000 gallons from government hydrants, including Crush Plant One and Two, Sakhi Hassan, Safoora and NIPA. Dense smoke and intense heat initially hampered the operation inside the 2,500-square-yard facility.

Evacuation and security

Personnel from the Pakistan Rangers and the local police reached the scene, assisted the rescue operation and cordoned off the area to keep onlookers away and give firefighters room to work. Officials said a number of people were inside the factory when the fire started, but all of them evacuated immediately and safely, and no casualties were reported.

Cause under investigation

Chief Fire Officer Muhammad Humayun Khan said the exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined. A formal investigation will begin once the cooling process is fully complete and the site is declared safe for examination. The cooling operation is essential to prevent any remaining hotspots from reigniting the blaze.

Karachi’s recurring industrial fire problem

The incident is the latest in a series of major fires at Karachi’s factories and commercial buildings, particularly in its industrial zones. Reports indicate the city recorded more than 2,400 fire incidents in 2025, while it is served by only 28 fire stations – a gap that has repeatedly strained emergency response in densely packed industrial districts such as SITE and the Landhi Export Processing Zone, which has also seen multiple major factory fires. The repeated incidents have renewed questions about fire safety standards and emergency preparedness across the city.

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Conclusion

The successful containment of the Karachi garment factory fire after a four-hour overnight operation is a testament to the firefighters who worked through dense smoke and intense heat to stop the blaze from spreading. With no lives lost and an investigation pending, the incident once again underscores the urgent need for stronger fire safety enforcement in Karachi’s industrial zones.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did the Karachi garment factory fire break out?
The fire broke out at about 11:20 PM on Sunday night near Habib Bank Chowrangi in Karachi’s SITE area and was brought under control roughly four hours later, in the early hours of Monday.

Were there any casualties in the fire?
No. Officials confirmed there were no casualties, as everyone inside the factory evacuated safely.

What made the fire so intense?
Plastic granules, plastic rolls, rubber and fibre stored on the factory’s second floor burned fiercely and produced heavy smoke, greatly intensifying the flames.

What resources were used to fight the fire?
Fire officials deployed 12 fire tenders, one snorkel, three water bowsers and six water tankers, used foam to suppress the flames, and received about 150,000 gallons of water through government hydrants.

What caused the fire?
The exact cause has not been determined. Chief Fire Officer Muhammad Humayun Khan said a formal investigation will begin after the cooling process is complete.