8 fires, 2,199 stalls destroyed, nearly Rs61 crore in losses at Islamabad weekly bazaars

Islamabad: Nearly Rs61 crore in estimated financial losses, 2,199 affected stalls and eight fire incidents have exposed serious safety and management failures at Islamabad’s weekly bazaars, with an official inquiry pointing to overnight storage of goods, illegal subletting of stalls, weak fire safety arrangements and poor emergency preparedness.

The most shocking incident occurred at H9 Weekly Bazaar on July 10, 2024, when a major fire destroyed or damaged 625 stalls and caused an estimated loss of Rs28 crore. The inquiry report found that the fire spread rapidly because of highly combustible goods stored inside the stalls, plastic tarpaulin sheets covering structures and other unsafe conditions.

The findings raise serious questions about the role of the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) and the authorities responsible for managing the bazaar. Despite repeated fires over the years, the inquiry found that important safety measures were still missing or not properly enforced.

The details were submitted to the Senate in response to Starred Question No. 15 moved by Senator Jan Muhammad. The question sought information about fires at H9 Weekly Bazaar over the last ten years, the financial losses suffered by traders, compensation paid to affected stallholders, investigations conducted and steps taken to prevent further incidents.

According to the official reply, eight fire incidents occurred between 2017 and June 2026, affecting a total of 2,199 stalls and causing estimated financial losses of approximately Rs59.75 crore to Rs60.75 crore.

The records show that the August 23, 2017 fire affected 611 stalls and caused an estimated loss of Rs22 crore. On July 18, 2018, another fire affected 100 stalls and caused losses of Rs3 crore.

Two fires were reported in October 2019. The first, on October 15, affected 26 stalls and caused losses of Rs40 lakh. The second, on October 29, affected 302 stalls, with an estimated loss of Rs15 lakh.

A fire on April 30, 2022 affected 22 stalls and caused an estimated loss of Rs50 lakh, while another incident on December 7, 2022 affected 133 stalls and caused losses of Rs70 lakh.

The July 10, 2024 fire was the most damaging incident in the list, affecting 625 stalls and causing an estimated loss of Rs28 crore. The latest incident listed in the reply occurred on June 23, 2026, when 380 stalls were affected and losses were estimated at Rs5 crore to Rs6 crore.

The figures show that traders have repeatedly suffered heavy losses, but the official reply does not identify any compensation paid to the affected stallholders. Instead, it states that the affected traders requested reconstruction of damaged stalls on a self finance basis. Reconstruction is being carried out under the applicable rules and procedures, with no compensation paid to the affected stallholders.

Following the major fire on July 10, 2024, an inquiry was conducted under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner, Islamabad. The report was submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office, with directions to the MCI and the Directorate of Municipal Administration to improve fire safety at all mercantile bazaars in Islamabad.

A separate committee was also formed after another fire incident during the night of June 22 and 23, 2026. It examined the causes of the fire and recommended preventive measures.

The inquiry report on the 2024 incident identified several factors that increased the danger of fire. These included large quantities of garments and textile products stored inside stalls, the use of plastic tarpaulin sheets over structures, and unsafe storage arrangements.

The report also raised concerns about overnight storage of merchandise inside the bazaar. It recommended strict enforcement of the ban on keeping goods inside stalls overnight, a complete fire safety audit, removal of unauthorised subletting and cancellation of illegal stall allotments.

The committee further recommended replacing unsafe materials with fire resistant alternatives, controlling the amount of goods stored inside stalls and ensuring that fire safety rules were properly followed.

The inquiry also examined the emergency response during the 2024 fire. It found weaknesses in communication, firefighting arrangements and the availability of emergency equipment.

The report recommended that fire tenders should be available at designated high risk locations and that emergency teams should be properly trained. It also called for regular fire drills, fire hydrants, hose cabinets, automatic sprinkler systems and better coordination between Rescue Services, the district administration and other departments.

The committee recommended at least one fully operational fire tender at designated high risk locations, along with a dedicated water supply system to support firefighting operations.

It also called for centralised digital records of emergency vehicle movements, dispatches, activities and releases so that the authorities could monitor emergency response times.

The documents also include a response from the Islamabad Police regarding fire incidents at the weekly bazaar. In the written reply attached to the Senate question, police stated that no FIR had been registered regarding the fire incident at the weekly bazaar.

This raises questions about how the incidents were formally recorded and whether responsibility for negligence or violations was examined through criminal proceedings. The available police response does not establish that a criminal offence occurred or explain whether any separate investigation was conducted.

The documents also contain court proceedings relating to disputes over stallholders and the management of Islamabad’s weekly bazaars.

In a judgment dated January 16, 2025, the Islamabad High Court discussed the difficulties faced by stallholders and the responsibilities of the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad. The proceedings referred to the long period during which traders had been operating in the bazaar and raised concerns about the arrangements made for their businesses.

The court record also discussed the responsibilities of the authorities in dealing with fire safety and public welfare. It highlighted that the MCI could not avoid its responsibility to protect people and property by treating fire incidents as matters outside its control.

The documents further include recommendations concerning stall management, coordination between the MCI and other authorities, fire safety arrangements and the need to bring the bazaar system in line with proper rules.

The MCI has told the Senate that several measures have been taken following the inquiry recommendations. These include the formation of a Fire Safety Committee, regular inspections, weekly monitoring and fire safety awareness programmes for traders and bazaar staff.

The authority also reported the provision of firefighting equipment, including 35 trolley mounted fire extinguishers, 100 dry powder fire extinguishers and portable fire extinguishers at different locations. A fire tender has also been stationed at H9 Bazaar on a 24 hour basis, according to the reply.

Other steps include plans for fire hydrants, hose cabinets, sprinkler systems, emergency response teams and improved communication between Rescue Services and the district administration.

The authorities have also said that stallholders were directed to remove their belongings and clear their stalls after the bazaar closed. However, the inquiry report noted that some traders had failed to remove goods, while unauthorised storage arrangements and illegal structures continued to increase fire risks.

The MCI has stated that it remains committed to implementing the inquiry recommendations and improving fire prevention, emergency preparedness and regulatory enforcement at H9 and other weekly bazaars in Islamabad.

The repeated fires, huge financial losses and findings about unsafe storage and weak management have raised serious questions about accountability. While the documents do not establish corruption or prove that any official deliberately caused the fires, they point to repeated failures in safety enforcement and management that require closer examination