Boulton Market arson: 'smuggled chemicals were used to ignite fire'

The recent arson that destroyed billion of rupees trade and businesses in the city is largely believed to have been ignited with the smuggled chemicals from neighbouring countries possibly from Afghanistan through porous borders.
"There are about 80 percent or more such chemicals, which could be used for igniting instant fire and the recent arson may be the one struck with such substance," chemical traders of Boulton Market told Business Recorder on Wednesday.
They said that chemicals and dyes are imported and traded under the Sindh government's licence, mainly to manufacturing sectors of pharma, textile, plastic, etc, ruling out any inflammable substance has ever been sold to individuals by the traders. Traders at the country's largest chemicals and dyes market firmly believe that the porous borders with Afghanistan are the primary routes of smuggling of heavy and light arms, explosives and ignitable chemicals, which are continuously being used for sabotaging Karachi.
The recent fire at Boulton Market on M.A. Jinnah Road has created fears amongst the chemical traders, who still think that any fire incidents will leave their sensitive businesses completely burnt, said Chairman Pakistan Chemicals and Dyes Merchants Association (PCDMA), Muhammad Naveed Younus.
He demanded of the government for shifting chemical and dyes markets to a rather safer place somewhere at Northern Bypass, as risk of another fire to the traders' businesses is higher than ever before. He pointed out that there are several traders who have already shifted their offices to a nearby commercial area of Tariq Road and many are considering for relocating of their businesses to safer places in the city.
He also ruled out the possibility of selling the inflammable chemicals by the local traders to individuals, saying that trade of chemicals and dyes are completely regulated and documented under the government's licence. Naveed pointed out that the fire, which spread high-rise instantly at plastic market because the plastic products are made with chemicals, which dissolve until getting completely melted.
"About more than 95 percent of chemicals are imported mainly from China, while less than 5 percent are exported," he said, adding that about 35 percent of the country's total revenue is generated from this sector. He termed the exiting security arrangements from governments and saying that losing billion of rupees businesses, these traders will rather prefer relocating their markets from here.
The ordinary or white phosphorus has its commercial importance and ignites spontaneously in air at 34 degree-centigrade therefore it is stored under water, said another trader. The April 9 fire at the lawyers' offices at Tahir Plaza on M.A. Jinnah Road was also suspected to have been ignited with white phosphorous. Similarly, the December 28 arson is widely seen a terror act with such spontaneously inflammable substance.