KARACHI: A teenage worker died in a huge fire that erupted in a restaurant in the Tariq Road area on Sunday, officials said.

Rescue-1122 spokesperson Hassaan Ul Haseeb Khan said the fire broke out following a blast in the air-conditioner’s compressor on the roof of the building housing the famous eatery Ghaffar Kabab House within the remit of the Ferozabad police station.

Area SHO Tariq Mehmood told Dawn that the AC’s outer unit was placed on the rooftop and it caught fire. The blaze spread and engulfed a family room where three employees of the restaurant were present. Two of them managed to go outside but the third one became unconscious after inhaling smoke and died of burns.

The victim was identified as 18-year-old employee Sajjad Sadiq. He was taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.

The rescue official said that three fire tenders rushed to the scene and managed to control the fire after hectic efforts lasting for around three years.

The SHO said the police called the parents of the victim and if they wanted to pursue the case legally, then an FIR would be lodged.

Besides, he said, the police are also waiting for the final report of the fire department regarding the exact cause of the fire. He was the police would act if any negligence on part of the owners was found.

Published in Dawn, November 17th, 2025