Operation against commercial activities at parks, grounds yet to start

KMC requests LEAs for help as it fears resistance from encroachers

KARACHI: Civic authorities have yet to start operations against commercial activities and encroachments in public grounds and parks in Karachi despite the Supreme Court's orders.

The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) had earlier decided to start crackdown against illegal commercial activities at public recreational spaces on Wednesday. Mayor Wasim Akhtar had also summoned a session of the KMC City Council to discuss the operation and Anti-Encroachment Senior Director Bashir Siddique had been appointed to lead the task force. However, due to undisclosed reasons, the action could not be initiated.

According to senior officers of the KMC, the operation is going to be a major one as it will include recovering public grounds on which residential houses have been built and thus, authorities need to be fully prepared to deal with backlash which is almost certain.



It has also been revealed that the city government has contacted the Rangers and police to help deal with possible resistance during the operation. The KMC has requested that it would require the help of law enforcement agencies (LEAs) for quite a few months.

According to sources, the KMC does not want to begin the operation without the LEA's assurance of cooperation which might be the reason for the delay in starting the operation.