Karachi Administrator tells restaurants to keep footpaths clear

Says permission cannot be granted for any form of construction outside

KARACHI:

Karachi administrator Laeq Ahmed said on Wednesday that authorities cannot grant permission for any construction on footpaths, greenbelts and corridors. He said restaurant owners should ensure that footpaths and corridors outside their eateries are clear for pedestrians.

He said that for the benefit of the city, cooperation and contact between the business fraternity and local body institutions was of utmost importance.

He issued this statement while speaking to a delegation of the All Pakistan Restaurant Association which led was by its patron-in-chief of Shaukat Omarson.

The delegation members expressed concern over the wastage of edible items due to sudden action against hotels and restaurants. They requested the concerned department to take this waste aspect into consideration.

Omarson continued that restaurant owners feared a major incident by being forced to keep gas cylinders and generators in the premises of the restaurant. He requested permission to keep such installations outside.

The administrator said the orders of the apex court on encroachments on public spots, including footpaths, were present for all to see. "These are spots for public use where no permission for construction or keeping any commodity can be granted, therefore, the restaurant association should take this into consideration," he said.

He said institutions and people associated with hotels and restaurants should see personally if keeping these items outside can cause problems for citizens. "The betterment of their business also lies in it," he asserted.

Read more: SC orders commencement of anti-encroachment drive along Gujjar, Orangi nullah

He said local body institutions provide basic services to citizens in which maintenance of infrastructure is of prime importance. "Clean and encroachment-free footpaths, roads, and greenbelts will help the city look cleaner and better. Therefore, all urban institutions should make joint efforts for this objective."

The administrator assured they did not want any businesses to suffer or to take any measure that could affect the segment. However, he stressed the mutual cooperation of business entities and local bodies was important.

He assured the delegation that the issues raised by them would be deliberated upon.

Demolitions continue

Meanwhile, anti-encroachments drives led by the senior director of the anti-encroachment department of KMC, Bashir Siddiqui, are continuing in various areas of the city.

The demolition of Aladin Park shopping mall and Pavilion End Club is underway with the use of heavy machinery. So far, over 60% of the portion has been demolished.

Bashir Siddiqui shared that on the orders of the apex court, the operation is in full swing across the city. He said the labour force and machinery is being increased to facilitate the operation.

He said that they are also helping the railway authorities eliminate encroachments."Over 100 homes built on storm drains in Swat Bagh Colony of PECHS Society have been demolished.

Similarly, encroachments on six spots of Gujjar nullah and Orangi Town nullah are being demolished. "The management is facing resistance at various spots," he bemoaned.

However, he was happy to report that police and Rangers officials were dealing with all elements interfering in government work. He said that he is flanked by the assistant commissioner, anti-encroachment police and city warden in all the operations.

He further shared that work on storm drains has been expedited keeping the rains in view. He said an additional force was deputed and work was underway at spots that suffered major damage during the monsoon rains last year.

"Encroachments built on big storm drains will be cleared off before the monsoon rains."

Published in The Express Tribune, July 1^st, 2021.