President Asif Ali Zardari has approved the Tamgha-e-Shujaat — Pakistan’s Medal of Bravery — for Shaheed Furqan, the Karachi firefighter who lost his life while trying to rescue people during the Gul Plaza fire.
The national civil award recognises Furqan’s conduct on the night the shopping complex on M.A. Jinnah Road caught fire. He was among the crew sent to fight the blaze and died after falling into wreckage and becoming trapped under debris.
How the award was secured
Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab had sought formal national recognition for the firefighter’s courage and service. The presidential approval follows that effort and places Furqan’s sacrifice among acts marked by the state as exceptional bravery in the line of duty.
Officials describe the medal as a tribute to his professional commitment and willingness to risk his own life to help others trapped in the building. For the city’s fire service, the decision is also a public affirmation of the dangers crews face when major commercial fires break out in dense urban corridors.
The Gul Plaza fire
The fire at Gul Plaza erupted on the night of 17 January 2026 and burned for roughly 36 hours before it was contained on the morning of 19 January. Furqan had joined the operation that Saturday night as teams worked to bring the massive blaze under control.
During the fight against the flames, he fell into the wreckage and could not be freed in time. He was married for about one and a half years and is survived by a child — details that underline how suddenly a routine emergency call can end in permanent loss for a young family.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- 17 January 2026 (night): Fire breaks out at Gul Plaza on Karachi’s M.A. Jinnah Road; Furqan joins the firefighting team that Saturday night.
- During the operation: Furqan falls into the wreckage, becomes trapped under debris, and dies.
- 19 January 2026 (morning): The blaze is contained after lasting about 36 hours.
- After the fire: Mayor Murtaza Wahab presses for national recognition of Furqan’s bravery.
- Presidential approval: President Asif Ali Zardari clears Tamgha-e-Shujaat for Shaheed Furqan.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Karachi ke firefighter Shaheed Furqan ko Tamgha-e-Shujaat milne ka faisla ho gaya hai. Gul Plaza ki aag bujhate hue woh malbe ke neeche phans kar shaheed ho gaye the. Yeh medal un ki himmat aur qurbani ko qomi pehchaan deta hai. Un ke ghar walon aur fire brigade ke liye yeh izzat ka aik ahem ishara hai.
