KARACHI: A huge fire destroyed around 100 huts and over 20 Qinqi rickshaws and motorcycles in Gulshan-i-Iqbal on Friday, police and rescue services officials said.

The Aziz Bhatti police said the fire erupted in huts near Tayyab Goth, Block-9.

Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassaan Ul Haseeb Khan told Dawn that they received information about the eruption of the blaze at around 12am. There were an estimated 700 huts established on an alleged disputed land, he said, adding that 11 fire tenders and two bowsers managed to control the fire after hectic efforts lasting for three hours. Around 100 huts were turned to ashes.

Mr Khan said that over 20 two-wheelers, three-wheelers and push-carts of the residents were also destroyed. He said the exact cause of the blaze could not be ascertained immediately. However, the residents claimed that the fire erupted due to a cylinder blast which initially engulfed three huts and then spread to others because of the wind direction.

Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2026