Sindh can't spare more than Rs1,000 for Empress Market area
Owners of the over 1,700 shops demolished around the iconic structure question the wisdom of the move
KARACHI:
In November last year, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) demolished over 1,700 shops built in and around the iconic Empress Market structure. The action was taken on the orders of the Supreme Court, which had called for restoring 'Karachi to its former glory'.
For the Empress Market at least, the KMC says it has a plan. It says it will start the repair and renovation work of the structure after consultation with archaeological experts, urban planners and heritage consultants. The problem, however, is that neither the KMC nor the Sindh government has any funds to do so.
The provincial government, for its part, had kicked off a rehabilitation project to revamp the surroundings of Empress Market. Special Secretary to the Local Government Department and project director Niaz Soomro told The Express Tribune that almost Rs1 billion have been spent from the original PC-1 amount of Rs.1.006b allocated for the project. The project envisaged the reconstruction of Jehangir Park, Mansfield Street, Mir Karam Ali Talpur Road, Raja Ghazanfar Ali Road, Sarwar Shaheed Road, and Shahrae Iraq. These have all been completed.
Lights out!: Citizens forced to brave power cuts in sweltering heat in Karachi
Meanwhile, work is still being carried out on the food street at Mir Karam Ali Talpur Road and night bazar at Raja Ghazanfar Ali Road. This is where the provincial government has hit the snag.
According to Soomro, they had submitted a revised PC-1 of Rs1.3 billion to complete the project. The new amount is yet to be approved by the development committee, however, the Sindh government has allocated a sum of Rs1,000 for the project in the new fiscal year's budget.
When asked about the funding, Soomro expressed the hope that seeing the importance of the project, the funds would be allocated for it by the local government. "As soon as the funds are disbursed, we will complete the project within three months," he added.
Empress Market revamp
With regard to the Empress Market itself, KMC Municipal Commissioner Dr Saif-ur-Rehman said that archaeological knowledge and expertise is necessary to ensure the historical appearance and preservation of the market's iconic structure. To that end, the PC-1 of the project is currently being prepared.
Owing to its age and absence of care, the structure of Empress Market has been dilapidated because of natural wear and tear, while its windows and roofs also need extensive repair. The building's historical wall clock also needs to be repaired.
"The renovation work will incur millions of rupees and the actual cost of the project will be estimated after the finalisation of the PC-1," said Dr Saif-ur-Rehman. "At the moment, the KMC does not have the requisite financial means to carry out this development work, therefore, we will request the Sindh government to fund the project."
He further said that at present, that Sindh government is in the process of constructing a boundary wall around the market and after its completion, the KMC will utilise its own funds to construct a park around the market to beautify the area.
While the KMC seems to have positive plans for the historic structure, shopkeepers whose shops were demolished in the market have strong grievances against the move.
Affectees speak out
Speaking to The Express Tribune, the shopkeepers of the market explained that during its "strict" anti-encroachment drive, the KMC evacuated hundreds of shops which led to an increase in unemployment. They added that the renovation projects, which the KMC and the Sindh government earlier announced, are yet to be implemented.
The president of the Empress Market's grocery, vegetable and fruit merchants' association, Liaquat Ali, said that the KMC grazed the shops but did not provide an alternative place to the affected shopkeepers.
"Shopkeepers have suffered a huge loss because of the KMC's anti-encroachment operation. Even if alternative spaces are provided to the affected shopkeepers to set up their shops, it will not carry the same business value," Ali said.
The market
Originally known as the KMC Market, the Empress market was constructed by the English before the partition of the subcontinent. After partition, the KMC built many shops within the structure and also constructed other registered markets in the surrounding area. Many people rented shops there and set up their businesses which successfully ran for many years because of the hustle and bustle of the area.
According to Liaquat Ali, shopkeepers not only paid the rent for their shops but also paid taxes for carrying out business activities. However, after these shops were demolished, the overall business of the market was severely affected.
"Demolition of the shops not only affected the shopkeepers and their families but the KMC also suffered a loss of revenue generated through the shops," Ali said. "Empress Market had been a central marketplace of Karachi and now only about 125 shops are left there".
Alternative spaces
Ali requested the mayor to allot alternative places to the affected shopkeepers immediately so that those who have been rendered unemployed because of the demolition of the shops can start their businesses anew.
He also added that the current shops of the market should undergo maintenance so that their historical significance is not destroyed.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, KMC's senior director for estate Imran Qadeer said that efforts are being made to provide shops to all the affected shopkeepers of the Empress Market and many of them have already accepted offers of alternate places, while the construction work is under way on these allotments.
Robbers loot 13 shops in Zainab Market Karachi
"New shops will be built very soon and will be allotted to those who wish to move their businesses there, while some shopkeepers have also demanded to be shifted to Empress Market again once it's renovated," said Qadeer.
Imran Qadeer added that about 352 affected shopkeepers have been offered a temporary place in Parking Plaza's Shahabuddin Market, which most of the shopkeepers have accepted.
The KMC also offered some alternative shops in Frere Market which shopkeepers refused to accept. Likewise, the meat merchants refused to accept offers for alternate shops in Ranchore Lines and have demanded that they are provided shops in Empress Market again.
Some 484 shopkeepers from the Umar Farooq Market, which is connected to Empress Market, have been offered places in Lyari Khadda Market which they have accepted. These shops will be handed over to them after carrying out the necessary procedure.
In November last year, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) demolished over 1,700 shops built in and around the iconic Empress Market structure. The action was taken on the orders of the Supreme Court, which had called for restoring 'Karachi to its former glory'.
For the Empress Market at least, the KMC says it has a plan. It says it will start the repair and renovation work of the structure after consultation with archaeological experts, urban planners and heritage consultants. The problem, however, is that neither the KMC nor the Sindh government has any funds to do so.
The provincial government, for its part, had kicked off a rehabilitation project to revamp the surroundings of Empress Market. Special Secretary to the Local Government Department and project director Niaz Soomro told The Express Tribune that almost Rs1 billion have been spent from the original PC-1 amount of Rs.1.006b allocated for the project. The project envisaged the reconstruction of Jehangir Park, Mansfield Street, Mir Karam Ali Talpur Road, Raja Ghazanfar Ali Road, Sarwar Shaheed Road, and Shahrae Iraq. These have all been completed.
Lights out!: Citizens forced to brave power cuts in sweltering heat in Karachi
Meanwhile, work is still being carried out on the food street at Mir Karam Ali Talpur Road and night bazar at Raja Ghazanfar Ali Road. This is where the provincial government has hit the snag.
According to Soomro, they had submitted a revised PC-1 of Rs1.3 billion to complete the project. The new amount is yet to be approved by the development committee, however, the Sindh government has allocated a sum of Rs1,000 for the project in the new fiscal year's budget.
When asked about the funding, Soomro expressed the hope that seeing the importance of the project, the funds would be allocated for it by the local government. "As soon as the funds are disbursed, we will complete the project within three months," he added.
Empress Market revamp
With regard to the Empress Market itself, KMC Municipal Commissioner Dr Saif-ur-Rehman said that archaeological knowledge and expertise is necessary to ensure the historical appearance and preservation of the market's iconic structure. To that end, the PC-1 of the project is currently being prepared.
Owing to its age and absence of care, the structure of Empress Market has been dilapidated because of natural wear and tear, while its windows and roofs also need extensive repair. The building's historical wall clock also needs to be repaired.
"The renovation work will incur millions of rupees and the actual cost of the project will be estimated after the finalisation of the PC-1," said Dr Saif-ur-Rehman. "At the moment, the KMC does not have the requisite financial means to carry out this development work, therefore, we will request the Sindh government to fund the project."
He further said that at present, that Sindh government is in the process of constructing a boundary wall around the market and after its completion, the KMC will utilise its own funds to construct a park around the market to beautify the area.
While the KMC seems to have positive plans for the historic structure, shopkeepers whose shops were demolished in the market have strong grievances against the move.
Affectees speak out
Speaking to The Express Tribune, the shopkeepers of the market explained that during its "strict" anti-encroachment drive, the KMC evacuated hundreds of shops which led to an increase in unemployment. They added that the renovation projects, which the KMC and the Sindh government earlier announced, are yet to be implemented.
The president of the Empress Market's grocery, vegetable and fruit merchants' association, Liaquat Ali, said that the KMC grazed the shops but did not provide an alternative place to the affected shopkeepers.
"Shopkeepers have suffered a huge loss because of the KMC's anti-encroachment operation. Even if alternative spaces are provided to the affected shopkeepers to set up their shops, it will not carry the same business value," Ali said.
The market
Originally known as the KMC Market, the Empress market was constructed by the English before the partition of the subcontinent. After partition, the KMC built many shops within the structure and also constructed other registered markets in the surrounding area. Many people rented shops there and set up their businesses which successfully ran for many years because of the hustle and bustle of the area.
According to Liaquat Ali, shopkeepers not only paid the rent for their shops but also paid taxes for carrying out business activities. However, after these shops were demolished, the overall business of the market was severely affected.
"Demolition of the shops not only affected the shopkeepers and their families but the KMC also suffered a loss of revenue generated through the shops," Ali said. "Empress Market had been a central marketplace of Karachi and now only about 125 shops are left there".
Alternative spaces
Ali requested the mayor to allot alternative places to the affected shopkeepers immediately so that those who have been rendered unemployed because of the demolition of the shops can start their businesses anew.
He also added that the current shops of the market should undergo maintenance so that their historical significance is not destroyed.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, KMC's senior director for estate Imran Qadeer said that efforts are being made to provide shops to all the affected shopkeepers of the Empress Market and many of them have already accepted offers of alternate places, while the construction work is under way on these allotments.
Robbers loot 13 shops in Zainab Market Karachi
"New shops will be built very soon and will be allotted to those who wish to move their businesses there, while some shopkeepers have also demanded to be shifted to Empress Market again once it's renovated," said Qadeer.
Imran Qadeer added that about 352 affected shopkeepers have been offered a temporary place in Parking Plaza's Shahabuddin Market, which most of the shopkeepers have accepted.
The KMC also offered some alternative shops in Frere Market which shopkeepers refused to accept. Likewise, the meat merchants refused to accept offers for alternate shops in Ranchore Lines and have demanded that they are provided shops in Empress Market again.
Some 484 shopkeepers from the Umar Farooq Market, which is connected to Empress Market, have been offered places in Lyari Khadda Market which they have accepted. These shops will be handed over to them after carrying out the necessary procedure.