Anti-encroachment: Authorities remove over 70 pushcarts

ABBOTTABAD: The anti-encroachment squad of the Abbottabad Tehsil Municipal Administration removed over 70 pushcarts illegally occupying the sidewalks on Eidgah Road. Later on Wednesday, the pushcart owners a held a demonstration outside the press club and met deputy and assistant commissioners. Led by Sardar Saeed, pushcart owners termed the action as unwarranted. The vendors said they were ready to move to the new area, but it lacked shade and protection. He added that the administration had deprived families of their livelihoods by removing the pushcarts. Saeed said the owners have been deprived of hundreds of thousands of rupees as the operation they have damaged their fruit and vegetables and other saleable commodities. As part of the anti-encroachment drive in the city, TMA officials, accompanied by the police, removed over 70 pushcarts from Eidgah road. Despite a protest by the owners, the anti-encroachment squad also confiscated the fruit and vegetables being sold illegally. However, the produce and pushcarts were later returned.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 10^th, 2016.