A devastating fire ripped through Lahore’s iconic electronics hub, Hafeez Centre in Gulberg, on Thursday, as relentless monsoon rains battered the city. Dramatic footage circulating on social media captured the five-storey building cloaked in thick, black smoke, while torrential rainwater flooded the surrounding streets, complicating rescue efforts.

Inside the centre, smoke poured through corridors and gutted shops, many of which have suffered extensive damage. Emergency responders from Police and Rescue 1122 rushed to the scene, battling both the blaze and the elements in a race to contain the inferno.

The full extent of the destruction remains unclear as authorities continue to assess the situation. Structural engineers are evaluating whether the building’s integrity has been compromised, while anxious shopkeepers grapple with the prospect of ruined inventory and prolonged business closures.

Officials have yet to determine the cause of the fire, but an investigation is expected, focusing on possible electrical faults or structural failures—issues that have plagued the centre in the past.

A Troubled History
This is not the first time Hafeez Centre has faced disaster. In October 2020, a massive fire broke out on the second floor, destroying between 400 and 500 shops and causing losses estimated at Rs 2.5 to 3 billion. That blaze raged for over 14 hours, prompting a large-scale emergency response involving 25 fire tenders, Pakistan Navy and Rangers personnel, and the dramatic rooftop evacuation of 25 people. A subsequent government inquiry found structural cracks and non-functional firefighting systems, leading to the building’s temporary closure.

Earlier, in December 2010, a short circuit sparked a fire in stalls selling networking hardware on the first floor. The flames, fueled by petrol cans and faulty wiring, quickly spread, damaging several shops.