Gul Plaza fire: Karachi firefighter Furqan to get Tamgha-e-Shujaat after President Zardari approves the award

President Asif Ali Zardari has approved the Tamgha-e-Shujaat, Pakistan's medal for bravery, for Furqan, the Karachi firefighter who died fighting the Gul Plaza fire in January, ARY News reported on Sunday 1 November. The approval followed a request from Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, who had pushed for national recognition of the firefighter's sacrifice.

Who Furqan was

Furqan was part of the Karachi fire brigade team sent into Gul Plaza, the multi-storey market on M.A. Jinnah Road, when it caught fire on the night of 17 January 2026. During the operation he fell into the wreckage and was trapped under debris, and he did not come out alive. He had married about a year and a half earlier, according to ARY.

The fire burned for about 36 hours before it was brought under control on the morning of 19 January.

What the Tamgha-e-Shujaat is

The Tamgha-e-Shujaat is one of Pakistan's civil gallantry awards, given for acts of courage, usually on Pakistan Day (23 March) at investiture ceremonies at the Presidency and the governor houses. Awards to people who died in the line of duty are received by their families. ARY did not say when Furqan's medal will be presented.

A criminal case over the fire, against members of the market's management committee, is before a Karachi magistrate.

Fire safety in your own building

The Gul Plaza fire spread through a market packed with goods and with few working exits. If you run a shop or office in a commercial building:

• know where the two nearest exits are and keep them clear of stock;
• check that fire extinguishers have been refilled within the past year;
• save Rescue 1122 and the fire brigade (16) in your phone.

Businesses in Karachi can also list their own premises, with address and contact details, in our directory.