A sudden fire broke out at a ginning factory in Multan on Monday, engulfing cotton and machinery before firefighters brought the blaze under control. No loss of life was reported in the incident, according to 24News TV channel.
The fire erupted at Azlan Textiles Mills, located at Hassan Chowk on Vehari Road in Multan. The factory houses cotton ginning operations, where raw cotton is processed before it moves on to textile mills. According to the report by Raza Malik, the fire was caused by short circuiting and spread quickly through the unit.
The blaze engulfed the cotton stock as well as the opening, cleaning and ginning machines inside the factory. Ginning units handle large quantities of raw cotton, which catches fire easily, and a short circuit in such an environment can turn into a major blaze within minutes. In this case, however, the damage was contained before it could spread further.
Rescue 1122 firefighters reached the site in time and extinguished the fire after hectic efforts, the report said. Their quick response prevented the flames from reaching other parts of the factory and nearby buildings. No loss of life has been reported so far, and no damage to the cotton stock was reported either, according to the details available.
Factory fires caused by electrical faults are a recurring hazard in Pakistan’s textile and ginning sector, where heavy machinery runs alongside large stocks of flammable raw material. Regular inspection of wiring and electrical panels, along with working fire safety equipment on site, is considered essential to preventing such incidents.
Authorities have not yet released further details about the extent of the damage to the machinery or whether the factory will remain closed while repairs are carried out. The incident serves as a reminder of the fire risks faced by industrial units dealing with cotton, and of the importance of a rapid emergency response when a blaze breaks out.
Officials say factory owners should keep fire extinguishers and emergency exits in working order and train staff to act quickly when a fire starts, since the first few minutes often decide how far a blaze spreads.
