350 Gul Plaza shopkeepers to get stalls at Baradari in first phase

KARACHI: In the first phase, the affected shopkeepers of Gul Plaza, numbering about 350, will be provided with temporary stalls at the location of Baradari, Bagh-i-Jinnah (former Polo Ground), so that they can resume their business activities.

Sindh Minister for Local Government Syed Nasir Hussain Shah visited Bagh-i-Jinnah, along with Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, to check the rehabilitation work and temporary business arrangements for the affectees of the Gul Plaza tragedy.

During the visit, the minister and the mayor were briefed at Baradari about the setting up of temporary stalls and provision of facilities for the affected traders.

According to a press release, the minister said that the Sindh government had taken emergency measures to provide immediate relief to the affected shopkeepers and had offered free alternative sites at various locations in the city so that they could resume their business activities without any delay.

He said that, after getting the approval of the chief minister, the process of compensation up to Rs7 billion has been started.

He said that the interim financial assistance up to Rs500,000 per month is also being given to the affected traders.

Mr Shah said that the arrangements for temporary stalls, ground floor facilities, parking, and security have been ensured and will continue until the completion of the permanent reconstruction of the Gul Plaza building.

He said that special teams have been formed to implement fire safety measures in plazas and markets, ordering the owners to ensure the availability of fire extinguishers, clearance of emergency exits, and implementation of safety measures.

He said that the responsibility for any negligence will be of the concerned management and owners.

Addressing the occasion, the mayor said that, considering the fact that it is the month of Ramazan, 350 affected shopkeepers will be given stalls in the first phase to ensure that there is no interruption in business activities.

He said that the registration of traders has been done in collaboration with the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) to make it transparent and fair.

The mayor further said that the final plan has been developed after consultation with the provincial ministers and the Karachi commissioner.

He said that additional land is available if more stalls are needed.

Reiterating the commitment of the government, the provincial minister said that Gul Plaza would be rebuilt in accordance with the latest standards and fire safety measures after the completion of compensation and temporary rehabilitation.

He said that the government would remain with the traders until they are fully restored.