Restoring zoological garden: KMC market around Karachi Zoo goes today

The tenants have been paying rent to KMC since the 1960s

KARACHI: With scores of shops and offices expected to be demolished along the boundary wall of the Karachi Zoo today (Saturday), shopkeepers started vacating their establishments on Friday after all their protests and efforts to reason with the authorities seemed to have failed.

The planned demolition exercise will raze up to 500 shops and offices built along the periphery of the Karachi Zoo, as part of the city-wide anti-encroachment operation being carried out on the Supreme Court's orders.



According to the patrons, the shops were rented out to them by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation in the 1960s. Generations of tenants of these shops have been conducting businesses and trade activities in these structures since.

Recently, however, the KMC ended the contracts of tenancy, after which the shopkeepers have been continuously protesting the move. They also met Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhter earlier this week, who assured them of the provision of an alternative space.



Preparations

On Friday, a session, chaired by Municipal Commissioner Saifur Rehman, was held to prepare a plan for the demolition. KMC's anti-encroachment director Bashir Siddiqi, adviser Masood Alam, Estate Director Tasneem Ahmed and other officials attended the session.

MC Saifur Rehman said that the shops present on the zoo's property should be demolished in light of the SC's orders. Heavy machinery, dumpers and loaders have been arranged for the operation, which is expected to start at 10am today (Saturday). 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 5^th, 2019.