‘Sharea Faisal boundary wall to lift city’s image’

The Karachi Development Authority (KDA) has commenced the construction of a boundary wall along Sharea Faisal to enhance the beauty of the city's busiest road. The work, spanning from the airport to the Nursery Market, will be completed in three phases, a senior KDA office told The Express
Tribune.

However, the people working and living along the Sharea Faisal were unhappy with the decision. "The beautification of Sharea Faisal aims to create a positive impression for foreigners entering Karachi," said KDA Director General Naveed Anwar Siddiqui in an interview with The Express Tribune.

The authority initiated the construction of the decorative wall from the airport to enhance the city's visual appeal under the direction of the interim chief minister. The first phase involves building a one-kilometre boundary wall from the airport to the Drigh Road Railway Station, with a cost of Rs200 million.

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The Sindh Building Control Authority's DG has also been instructed to renovate the green belt within these limits.Siddiqui said that the matter was discussed in a recent between Mayor Murtaza Wahab and Commissioner Muhammad Saleem Rajput.

In the second phase, the project will extend from Drigh Road Railway Station to the flyover near the Nursery Market. The boundary wall construction will cover approximately 18 kilometres from the airport to Metropole, the KDA DG said. The first phase is expected to be completed this month, while the second phase will take an additional month.

The boundary wall will be painted showing heritage sites like Mohenjo Daro and other historical places of Sindh, providing a visual treat for visitors traveling from the airport to all the way to the city centre. However, people living and working along the city's major artery expressed concerns that the project may enhance beauty but compromise security and damage businesses.

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Malik Humayun, the president of the union of the auto parts and accessories market on Sharae Faisal near the airport, said the boundary wall has severely impacted business. The wall has restricted the access of customers to shops, he said. Humayun also highlighted the negative effect on the main road's safety, as no accidents or incidents are now visible.

Residents acknowledge the aesthetic improvement but suggest that the money could be better invested in overall city improvement, providing more facilities. On a different note, Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab, while taking The Express Tribune said that the construction of the boundary wall has replaced wall chalking, unnecessary advertisements, and other unsightly elements, presenting a positive and beautiful image of Karachi.  Thefirst phase of construction is set to be completed this month, with the overall project spanning three
phases.