KARACHI: Around three dozen shops were destroyed when a massive fire broke out in a furniture market in Gulistan-i-Jauhar on Friday, police and rescue services officials said.

The blaze was brought under control after several hours of hectic efforts. No casualties were reported in the incident.

Rescue-1122 spokesperson Hassaan Ul Haseeb Khan said the fire broke out in the furniture market near Kamran Chowrangi.

He said the flames spread rapidly through the wooden items stored there and engulfed the entire market.

The fire also spread to nearby residential areas and engulfed a house. However, residents had already evacuated to safety, he added.

Mr Khan said that firemen rushed to the scene and initially extinguished the fire at the house, the front portion of which had been damaged.

He said six fire tenders brought the blaze under control after a three-hour operation. The fire caused huge financial losses, as all the wooden items stored in the market were destroyed.

The exact cause of the fire could not be ascertained till late at night.

In a statement, the Fire Brigade said the blaze had intensified because of dry weather and strong winds, coupled with the presence of wooden materials. It said around 35 furniture shops had been destroyed.

Chief Fire Officer Humayun Khan told the media that fire incidents tended to increase in the metropolis during the dry season.

Last year, a fire also broke out in the same furniture market. There are unconfirmed reports that it was established on disputed land.

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2026