A massive fire erupted at Islamabad’s H-9 Weekly Bazaar on Tuesday night, destroying hundreds of stalls and causing losses estimated in the millions of rupees. No casualties were reported.
According to officials, the fire broke out at Block C of the extensive market, which is mainly occupied by shoe vendors. Witnesses stated that the fire had broken out so fast that it started spreading in the market through its tightly arranged stalls. Thick clouds of black smoke were coming out of the burning blocks of the market and could be seen from different parts of the federal capital.
H-9 Weekly Bazaar is one of the largest public markets in Islamabad, frequented by hundreds of buyers and sellers on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. From preliminary findings, there are indications that hundreds of stalls have been severely destroyed and, in some cases, totally burnt down. Although the exact monetary value of the losses is not known yet, it is estimated to run into several million rupees.
High-ranking officials from the administration, such as the Assistant Commissioner of I-9, were also present at the site during the entire process of rescue and firefighting operations. The areas of the bazaar which had been damaged by the fire were cordoned off by the police, and investigation was carried out to find out the reason for the fire.
The latest incident has once again highlighted longstanding concerns regarding fire safety measures at the H-9 Weekly Bazaar. This place has had numerous fires during the last decade, which has always raised concerns related to electricity supply, emergency management, firefighting capacity, and safety compliance. As per the records, this is the fifth such fire incident to occur since 2017.
In the past, fires have resulted in huge losses. For instance, in August 2017, a big fire razed down about 550 stalls at Block C and damaged several others in neighboring blocks. A second fire in July 2018 razed down about 110 stalls while in 2019 another fire destroyed about 300 stalls. In December 2022, about 130 stalls went up in flames while in July 2024, nearly 700 stalls were destroyed by a fire in the garment part of the market. Electrical short circuit was suspected to be the cause.
Such repeated incidences have led to the call for more comprehensive measures regarding security at one of the busiest market places in the capital city. The traders and other members of civil society have made calls to the authorities to upgrade their electricity systems, ensure the presence of more efficient fire detection systems, among others, so as to avoid future accidents.
As the cooling and assessment process continues, government agencies are expected to finalize damage estimates and announce relief measures for affected vendors. The incident serves as yet another reminder of the vulnerability of large public markets to fire hazards and the urgent need for strengthened safety mechanisms to protect both livelihoods and public property.
Sources: DAWN News, Arab News, and The Nation.
