Employment opportunity: Encroachment removal reaps windfall for masons

RAWALPINDI: Labourers are busy repairing the buildings affected by the anti-encroachment operation, traders said. “There are no free masons to be found in Rawalpindi these days, every man with a pickaxe, shovel, sledgehammer and trowel is getting work,” said a shopkeeper who was getting his shop repaired after the demolition squad tore down an extended platform.

While many building owners were seeking repairs, scores were demolishing their encroachment themselves so as to avoid action by civic authorities.

Be it the Rawalpindi city or the cantonment board areas, the demolition squads come with excavators and heavy machinery to tear down the extended shades and platforms of the shops. “The demolition action by heavy machinery affects the whole structure of the building, therefore we are removing the encroachment ourselves,” said a shopkeeper.

He said that he had hired labourers on twice the amount. The daily wage of an unskilled labourer has shot up from Rs500 to Rs1,000 per day. “You will be lucky to find one these days,” he said.

Besides the daily wages of skilled masons required for the repairs after the removal of illegal structures has gone up from Rs1,000 to Rs2,000 and more. According to a market survey conducted by Daily Express, labourers, particularly masons, who used to sit with their tools on footpaths waiting for someone to employ them, have found loads of work.

Rawalpindi Development Authority, Rawalpindi Cantonment Board and Chaklala Cantonment Board have torn down numerous encroachment in the markets and commercial and residential areas across the city.

RCB demolition drive

Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) enforcement teams confiscated on Monday five truckloads of goods from Dhoke Mustakeem, Naseerabad, Chungi Number22, Tench Bhatta, Saddar and other areas.

The demolition squads of RCB took down nearly 400 illegal shades and illegally built cemented extensions of shops.

RCB had earlier issued notices asking shopkeepers to remove encroachments on their own or strict action would be taken.

According to a spokesman of RCB, the operation would continue in pursuance of the orders issued by the Rawalpindi Bench of Lahore High Court.

Teams of RCB were removing temporary and permanent encroachment, he said adding, illegal banners and posters were also being removed.

He informed that the RCB Food Branch team conducted raids in Naseerabad, Peshawar Road, Masrial Road, Saddar and other areas and issued 50 show because notices to the rules violators while five shops were also sealed for unhygienic condition and not having trade licence. The team imposed fines amounting to Rs215,000 on the violators. 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30^th, 2018.