Almost 236 Die in 2 Pakistan Fires

Almost 236 people were killed when fires engulfed two factories in two major cities, renewing concerns about lax building safety measures and dismal working conditions for factory workers in Pakistan..
The fires broke out Tuesday evening and swept through a shoe factory in the eastern city of Lahore and a garment factory in the southern port city of Karachi, the New York Times reports.
The fire in Karachi killed at least 166 people. About 1,500 people worked in the factory on the outskirts of Karachi, the commercial and economic hub of the country.
Officials said panicked workers, including men and women, were trapped inside the multistory building which had just one exit. All the other doors had been locked, a common practice to ensure that workers do not leave the premises before their shift ends.