400 illegal shops at Board Bazaar demolished

One hundred also held for resisting anti-encroachment operation

PESHAWAR:

The district administration and Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) launched a large-scale crackdown against encroachment in Board Bazaar.

During the operation around 400 shops were demolished which had been built illegally and around 100 shopkeepers were also arrested for resisting the operation.

Officials told The Express Tribune that these shops had been constructed in violation of the rules and regulations and were causing serious traffic disruption in the area.

The Board Bazaar is also called mini Kabul as almost 90 per cent of the businesses and shops are owned by Afghan nationals.

Also read: Road encroachments block traffic

Officials said that most of the shops had been constructed on footpaths and all such constructions had been bulldozed completely in a “grand operation”.

“The area which has been cleared of the illegal constructions will be developed as a green belt and a parking lot will also be established there,” the official said, adding that operation against encroachment would continue across the district non-stop and all illegal buildings would be razed to the ground.

“All those who are involved in reconstruction on the cleared land would be dealt with an iron hand,” he said.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22^nd, 2023.