Govt has one week to make Zulfiqarabad oil terminal functional
SC warns of action if large oil tankers are not removed from Shireen Jinnah Colony
If a single oil tanker is seen in the city after one week, action will be taken against the concerned authorities, warned the judges during the hearing. PHOTO: MOHAMMAD NOMAN/FILE
KARACHI:
Enough is enough, the government authorities and other stakeholders have a week's time to finally shift the large oil tankers currently parked on the streets in Karachi's residential localities to the new terminal outside the city limits to be made fully operational by Thursday.
The Supreme Court (SC) gave these directives to the provincial government, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) authorities and other stakeholders while hearing the case about the parking of oil tankers on the streets of Shireen Jinnah Colony's Block-1.
A three-member bench, headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed, also sought a compliance report after one week to see how far the authorities had implemented the court's directives. The bench - also comprising Justices Maqbool Baqar and Sajjad Ali Shah - was hearing the matter at the SC's Karachi Registry, where the case had been heard dozens of times and repeated directives have been issued to the Sindh government, KMC, oil tankers owners' association and private oil supplying companies.
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"If a single oil tanker is seen in the city after one week, action will be taken against the concerned authorities," cautioned the bench's head, Justice Ahmed.
The suo motu proceedings began after a letter was written by Shagufta Bibi, a resident of Shireen Jinnah Colony, seeking removal of the large oil tankers from the residential locality. The applicant had complained that the tankers were causing massive traffic jams and causing great inconvenience to the residents of Block-1.
Ever since the top court initiated suo motu proceedings in 2012, the provincial and local authorities, as well as the oil tankers owners' association and companies, had been directed, on several occasions, to contribute their respective share to make the new terminal operational to provide relief to the residents of Shireen Jinnah Colony. A day earlier, the bench had directed the provincial and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) high-ups to submit a report on the current status of construction work on the Zulfiqarabad tankers' terminal.
Advocate-General Barrister Zamir Ghumro told the judges that the private oil companies were not coming forward to make financial contributions as per their share, which was causing delays in making the terminal functional.
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The bench members heard the lawyers representing the provincial government, KMC, private oil companies as well as other stakeholders. Finally, they directed the provincial government to make sure the new oil tankers' terminal at Zulfiqarabad was made fully operational within a week.
The bench further asked them to make available all the requisite facilities, including an efficient firefighting system, as part of safety arrangements at the new terminal, within the stipulated time.
Meanwhile, the private oil companies' high-ups were also directed immediately contribute their share, as agreed by them, to help the government make the new terminal operational. The bench sought a compliance report after one week.
Enough is enough, the government authorities and other stakeholders have a week's time to finally shift the large oil tankers currently parked on the streets in Karachi's residential localities to the new terminal outside the city limits to be made fully operational by Thursday.
The Supreme Court (SC) gave these directives to the provincial government, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) authorities and other stakeholders while hearing the case about the parking of oil tankers on the streets of Shireen Jinnah Colony's Block-1.
A three-member bench, headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed, also sought a compliance report after one week to see how far the authorities had implemented the court's directives. The bench - also comprising Justices Maqbool Baqar and Sajjad Ali Shah - was hearing the matter at the SC's Karachi Registry, where the case had been heard dozens of times and repeated directives have been issued to the Sindh government, KMC, oil tankers owners' association and private oil supplying companies.
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"If a single oil tanker is seen in the city after one week, action will be taken against the concerned authorities," cautioned the bench's head, Justice Ahmed.
The suo motu proceedings began after a letter was written by Shagufta Bibi, a resident of Shireen Jinnah Colony, seeking removal of the large oil tankers from the residential locality. The applicant had complained that the tankers were causing massive traffic jams and causing great inconvenience to the residents of Block-1.
Ever since the top court initiated suo motu proceedings in 2012, the provincial and local authorities, as well as the oil tankers owners' association and companies, had been directed, on several occasions, to contribute their respective share to make the new terminal operational to provide relief to the residents of Shireen Jinnah Colony. A day earlier, the bench had directed the provincial and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) high-ups to submit a report on the current status of construction work on the Zulfiqarabad tankers' terminal.
Advocate-General Barrister Zamir Ghumro told the judges that the private oil companies were not coming forward to make financial contributions as per their share, which was causing delays in making the terminal functional.
Public transport drivers to get lectures on road safety
The bench members heard the lawyers representing the provincial government, KMC, private oil companies as well as other stakeholders. Finally, they directed the provincial government to make sure the new oil tankers' terminal at Zulfiqarabad was made fully operational within a week.
The bench further asked them to make available all the requisite facilities, including an efficient firefighting system, as part of safety arrangements at the new terminal, within the stipulated time.
Meanwhile, the private oil companies' high-ups were also directed immediately contribute their share, as agreed by them, to help the government make the new terminal operational. The bench sought a compliance report after one week.