Smoke And Sirens: What Happened Inside Hafeez Center Today?

Lahore woke up to thick smoke and sirens today. Hafeez Center, one of the city’s busiest shopping plazas, caught fire again. This time, the blaze started in the basement. It happened during heavy monsoon rain, likely caused by a short circuit due to water and exposed wires.

The fire broke out around noon and filled the multi-story building with smoke. Rescue 1122 teams arrived quickly. Five fire trucks worked to bring the situation under control. Police sealed off the area to keep crowds away.

This is not the first time the Hafeez Center has burned. In 2020, a fire here caused billions in losses and destroyed more than 400 shops. Today’s fire feels like a tragic repeat. People are asking: Why do these fires keep happening? What’s being done to stop them? Here’s what we know so far.

The Fire: How It Started and Spread

The fire began in the basement, likely caused by a short circuit due to rainwater.
Small explosions were heard before flames spread.
Smoke rose quickly, covering the upper floors.
Motorcycles and cars in the basement also caught fire.

Rescue 1122 was called right away. Firefighters reached quickly, but it took hours to control the fire. Witnesses say smoke made it hard to see or breathe inside. Hundreds of shopkeepers rushed out of the building.

Thankfully, no lives were lost. However, the damage to goods and the building is still being assessed. Firefighters stayed on site to monitor for flare-ups. Thick smoke made cleanup harder.

The Response: What Authorities Did Right Away

Within minutes, fire engines were on the scene. Police sealed roads leading to the Hafeez Center. Their goal was to help firefighters work without chaos.

Five fire vehicles arrived.
Police pushed crowds back.
DIG Operations gave direct orders to maintain safety.
SHO Gulberg stayed on-site to manage the crowd.

Officials made sure the fire didn’t spread to nearby buildings. But shopkeepers still faced panic. Many lost their inventory. Still, many wonder: Were the building’s fire alarms even working?

Safety Concerns: What Went Wrong Again

This isn’t the first time Hafeez Center has burned. It’s happened before, and officials knew the risks. Yet, recommended safety upgrades were ignored.

After the 2020 fire, which destroyed over 400 shops, a committee called for:

Fire alarm system upgrades
Emergency hydrants
Electrical rewiring
Regular inspections

Experts say fire alarms didn’t work today. A market that sees thousands daily must be safer than this.

History Repeats: The 2020 Hafeez Center Fire

In October 2020, Hafeez Center suffered one of Lahore’s biggest commercial fires:

Event	Details
Date	October 18, 2020
Shops Destroyed	400–500 shops
Estimated Loss	Rs 2.5–3 Billion
Rescue Time	14 Hours
Trapped Rescued	25 people from the rooftop

The fire started on the second floor and burned for hours. Rescue teams included the Pakistan Navy and Rangers. Later, structural cracks were found. The plaza was sealed but soon reopened. Safety plans were made but not followed. And here we are again.

Rescue Challenges: Delays, Blame, and Reality

In 2020, many shopkeepers blamed Rescue 1122 for slow response. Today, those feelings returned. While officials claim a timely arrival, some say it wasn’t fast enough.

Issues faced:

Lack of working smoke alarms
No sprinklers
Confusing escape routes

Shopkeepers also claimed their goods were damaged by water on floors that were not affected by fire. Emergency teams did what they could. But years of weak planning left them with a mess.

Is Hafeez Center Safe at All?

This fire raises serious questions:

Why is Hafeez Center still open without full safety clearance?
Why do past failures repeat?
Where is accountability?

Governor Punjab recently allowed fire-hit buildings to reopen without proper checks. Experts now say this was a reckless decision.

Buildings like Hafeez Center must follow the rules. Skipping inspections and ignoring expert advice puts lives at risk. Urban safety is not just about fire trucks. It’s about prevention. Without real change, these fires will keep happening.

What Shopkeepers Lost Today

Official estimates are pending, but early reports suggest moderate financial loss, especially for small traders on lower floors. Many small business owners are now empty-handed.

Inventory lost: phones, laptops, accessories
Shops were damaged, especially those in the basement and lower floors
Business days lost: unclear how long recovery will take

These traders didn’t just lose goods—they lost peace of mind. The government must act before another disaster strikes.