Vital official record feared burnt in New Sindh Secretariat Fire

Naimat Khan

KARACHI: Important files of several ministries, including the Chief Minister Sindh’s secretariat, were burnt as a result of fire in new Sindh Secretariat here on Saturday.

Besides CM’s Secretariat, the offices of Health, SNDG, Food and education are situated in the building and it’s feared the official records of all these ministries have been turned into ashes, sources said, adding that the furniture in these offices have also completely been burnt.

The fire engulfed the 4th and 3rd floors of the building with the 2nd floor also being affected. The 2nd floor houses the offices of the Secretary General Administration and his department that looks after security, fuel and other general expenses. The 3rd floor houses the offices of the Secretary Works and Services and his department while on the 4th floor the offices of the secretary and the food department are located.

Items stored in the open on the ground floor were also damaged after flaming pieces from the third floor fell to the ground.

At least four tenders of the fire department reached to put out the fire after fire was reported to the firefighting teams. The fire was put out within two hours; however, the process of cooling was underway.

There was no official word from the provincial government. The fire department official said that the causes of fire can be ascertained once the process of cooling is completed.