Billboard mafia blamed for chopping trees along Sharae Faisal

Officials say FIR will be registered against offenders

KARACHI: Several trees were chopped down along Sharae Faisal near the Duty Free shop by unidentified persons. This incident was brought to light after photographs of the trees were uploaded online by an activist.

According to social media activist and chartered accountant Abdul Hamid Dhagia, it is evident why these large trees - which included an old neem, peepal and akasia - were chopped down. He pointed his finger towards a large billboard. Once again the billboard and advertisement mafia has become active and, just like the past, there are no rules for them - they can install advertisements wherever they want to and chop down any tree in their way, he lamented.

Paan shop owner Khurram Qureshi told The Express Tribune that when they arrived at the scene in the morning the trees had already been cut. He added that the trees used to provide shade to passersby.

He opened his paan stall on Sharae Faisal many years ago, said Khurram, adding that in all this time he has seen many trees chopped down but never any action against those responsible.



According to Urban Resource Centre Director Zahid Farooq, action should be taken by the concerned department, an FIR should be lodged and whoever is involved in the crime he should be ordered to plant more trees as penance.

You cannot expect the Supreme Court to run the affairs of the government; it is the duty of the government to ensure rule of law, he said. Farooq said once again the powerful mafia of advertisements and billboards is active in the city and they must not be allowed to install advertisements wherever they please.

According to District Municipal Corporation East Jamshed Town’s Deputy Director of Parks and Horticulture Iqbal Qureshi, he is aware of the incident and will try to apprehend those involved. He added that as per his information, trees are often illegally chopped down before Fajr prayers.



No one chops trees unless it is of great benefit to them, he said, adding that the most common culprit in such crimes is the advertisement mafia.  An FIR will be lodged against the criminals, under Section 132 of the Sindh Local Government Act, 2013 and the Pakistan Penal Code, said Iqbal.

A senior official of the department told The Express Tribune that he believes that some officials of the department are involved in this activity, as it is not easy to chop down trees on a main thoroughfare like Sharae Faisal. The official said it seems the trees were cut with the help of machinery, as it would not be possible to cut the trees so neatly with an axe.