MQM MPA claims PTI's Zaman unhappy because his own restaurant was affected.
PHOTO: FILE
Referring to the dozens of signboards and neon light signs on shops, restaurants and other structures, Zaman said, "We have been paying taxes to KMC for these signboards for years. Millions of rupees are generated through these taxes. The officials are causing great loss to people while demolishing the signboards." He was of the view that the court had ordered to demolish the illegal structures on pavements, parks and amenity plots as well as action against illegal marriage halls, not the signboards. "Karachi, especially Saddar , is our constituency. I have approached the mayor and local government minister too as I suggest taking action against pushcart mafia, which has again emerged," he lamented.
Anti-encroachment drive slows down
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) lawmaker, Mohammad Hussain, who was sitting next to Zaman on opposition benches, defended the encroachment drive and remarked that there is another side to PTI's protest on this issue. "It has been seven days, since the campaign started. All was well for Zaman, but now suddenly he stood against the drive when a portion of his own restaurant in Saddar was demolished," said Hussain. According to Hussain, the action was being taken after 40 years and all stakeholders including Karachi Cantonment Board, KMC, Sindh government and even Clifton Cantonment Board have been taken on board.
Compensation for victims
Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani, while briefing the house, said that the action was taken on the orders of the Supreme Court and so far over 1,000 shops have been demolished. "There were lots of cabins in Saddar which were converted into shops. KMC had leased them and used to collect tax from them. Now, KMC has cancelled the leases of these shops, which have been razed to the ground," he said, calling it "over all a good decision." Ghani added that he would soon hold a meeting with the chief minister where the issue of compensation or alternative space for shops would be decided.
Over 1,700 shops demolished in Karachi
Opposition leader Firdous Shamim Naqvi suggested the government to come up with a specific criterion on the size of the signboards and neon lights. "You must give notices to these people for erecting signboards out of the size rather than knocking down the structures causing losses to the people," he said. The same idea was floated by MQM lawmaker Khawaja Izharul Hasan who said, "Sindh government earned millions of rupees from these signboards in the last tenure. A member of this house is also facing charges in National Accountability Bureau," he said, referring to former information minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, who was also present in the House.
Thar Airport
Energy Minister Imtiaz Shaikh informed the House that the work on Thar Airport has been completed, which will be operational in January 2019. "Sindh government has spent around Rs2 billion on this project, which was completed by Civil Aviation Authority. All arrangements have been finalised and it will be lunched by Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari," Shaikh said, in response to a question. The energy minister said that the Thar project, which was originally envisaged by Benazir Bhutto in 1994, will be one of the mega projects in the world. "Around 180b tons of coal reserves have been estimated in this area, which will be far more than Saudi Arabia and Iran when it comes to energy needs," he said. Referring to the recent visit of Sindh governor to Thar, he said, "Governor with his staff has landed at the airport using an ATR aircraft. We have written to the civil aviation to make necessary arrangements and take over the airport."
After the debate on this issue, Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani adjourned the session till Tuesday.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 13th, 2018.
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