Dozens killed in Pakistan fires

A fire raced through a garment factory in the Pakistani city of Karachi overnight killing more than 100 people, while another fire in a shoe factory in Lahore killed at least 25 more. Many of whom perished because they were unable to escape buildings that lacked emergency exits and basic safety equipment such as alarms and sprinklers.

Such safety issues are common in Pakistan, where many factories are set up illegally in the country's densely populated cities, and owners often pay officials bribes to look the other way.

The fires could raise fresh questions about Pakistan's industrial safety. Critics say the government is too corrupt and ineffective to tackle an array of problems, from struggling industries to suicide bombings in the South Asian nation.

Pakistani Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf expressed his shock and grief over the deaths in both cities.

Listen to Christopher Wells’ report: