Four firefighters died and others were injured after fire broke out in a garment factory in the southern Pakistan port city of Karachi, rescue officials and police said on Thursday.
The cause of the blaze, which ripped through the factory on Wednesday night and eventually caused it to collapse, was not immediately known, police said. Earlier, heavy grey smoke had risen suddenly from the factory. Firefighters had almost extinguished the blaze when the collapse occurred.
Rescuers have retrieved the bodies of the firefighters from the rubble of the factory.
Several firefighting vehicles were sent to the scene in an industrial area of the city, officials said. Officers were also assessing the impact of the fire at an adjacent building.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his sorrow over the deaths of firefighters, describing them as “martyrs” who had died while trying to save the lives of others. In a statement, he conveyed his condolences to their families.
Mr Sharif also ordered authorities to prepare a strategy to avoid such incidents in future.
Karachi is the capital of southern Sindh province, where such incidents are common. In August 2021, at least 10 people were killed in a fire at a chemical factory in Karachi. In the most deadly incident, 260 died in 2012 after being trapped in a garment factory when fire broke out.
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Liverpool's all-time goalscorers
Ian Rush 346
Roger Hunt 285
Mohamed Salah 250
Gordon Hodgson 241
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SCORES IN BRIEF
Lahore Qalandars 186 for 4 in 19.4 overs
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Pakistan Super League
Previous winners
2016 Islamabad United
2017 Peshawar Zalmi
2018 Islamabad United
2019 Quetta Gladiators
Most runs Kamran Akmal – 1,286
Most wickets Wahab Riaz –65
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David Haye record
Total fights: 32
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
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Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
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The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
The view from The National
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
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RESULTS
Argentina 4 Haiti 0
Peru 2 Scotland 0
Panama 0 Northern Ireland 0
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On Women's Day
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While you're here
Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
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17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
