(Un)planned development: The Empress is bare. Now the authorities must play fair

KARACHI: The order for the removal of encroachments, especially around the Empress Market, is an unprecedented initiative by the Supreme Court.  Unfortunately, it is being implemented without any planning to the extent of damages caused to the vendors - shopkeepers and hawkers.

It is unfortunate that not a single immovable asset was created by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) during the last 40 years. In mid-70s Zulfikar Ali Bhutto ordered the construction and inaugurated three mega projects - Liaquatabad Super Market, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and Sports Complex at Kashmir Road and handed them over to the KMC.

Karachi needs at least four or five new market buildings, especially in the central business district.

The Government of Sindh and KMC must immediately initiate the construction of multi-storey market buildings with adequate parking on the site of its available properties.

At least four old buildings of markets and an office building of KMC existed on Burnes Road, Bin Qasim Road, Fresco Chowk, Aram Bagh and Khori Garden areas. Out of these, two sites -The Frere Market on Burnes Road and the Education Office premises on Bin Qasim Road, are best suited for construction of multi-storey market buildings.

The Government of Sindh must start construction of markets at the site of Gos Education Office opposite Boulton Market and also at the current premises of Preedy, Kharadar and Mithadar police stations, including housing units, with the creation of modern police stations. The proposed building at the Preedy police station site can also help accommodate motor mechanics and workshops from the area, including the Magazine Lines in the basement, besides space for motorcycles and auto-parts market.

None of the space in these new markets should be allotted or leased out. Instead, the shops can be rented out to create immovable assets and help generate regular income for the KMC and the police and the education department of the Government of Sindh.

In the past, attempts were made to shift all wholesale markets from Jodia Bazaar and its adjoining areas to land earmarked near Madinatul Hikmat on Northern Bypass. The plan, however, could not be materialised due to the long commute.

One or two sites of KMC and the government are available within one kilometre radius of Jodia Bazaar, which is most suitable for construction of wholesale market. It will help remove the existing congestion, besides eliminating the regular gridlock in the vicinity.

The federal government and the Government of Sindh must come forward and announce special funds for the construction of the proposed new market buildings in the central business district. These market buildings may be constructed within the minimum period of 18 to 24 months, if qualified and experienced contractors are engaged on a transparent basis. 

The writer is a former senior official of the Karachi Development Authority 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6^th, 2018.