Fire damages mayor’s office

KARACHI: A fire broke out at Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab’s office on Tuesday, that damaged the room and furniture, but luckily there were no casualties. Speaking to reporters at his office, the Mayor said firefighters brought the blaze under control. The Karachi Fire Brigade will determine the cause after a detailed inspection, he said. “The Fire Brigade will conduct a detailed inspection and survey of the site, after which the causes of the fire and other details will be shared, ” Wahab assured. He said his staff and other personnel were safe and that the financial loss caused by the fire would be assessed and compensated. He said the initial assessment suggested that the fire may have started because of a fault in the air-conditioning system in his office. The outdoor unit was installed near the kitchen area, he said, but stressed that the actual cause could only be established after a formal investigation. He said his office had been extensively damaged and furniture inside was destroyed. However, he said no important official records were kept there. “Files brought to me for signatures are signed and orders are issued, after which they are returned to the relevant departments, ” he said. The Mayor said the incident would also be investigated internally, with CCTV footage and other available evidence examined. Chief Fire Officer had been tasked with inspecting the site and determining the cause of the blaze. Despite the damage, the Mayor said he would continue his official duties from another room and that scheduled visits and activities across the city would proceed as planned. A press conference on development projects scheduled for Tuesday was postponed because of the incident and would be held within the next one or two days, he said. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

Read full story on Business Recorder