Anti-encroachment drive launched across city

Mayorr Murtaza Wahab, presided over a high-level meeting on anti-encroachment drive at head office of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) on Friday.

During meeting, he said that a campaign had been launched against encroachments in all districts of the city simultaneously. KMC inspectors were being deployed in every town while city administration and KMC would jointly conduct operation against encroachments. A comprehensive strategy has been chalked out under court orders for removal of encroachments.

This operation does not aim to make citizens jobless. Instead, a proposal to allocate space for hawkers in every district is under consideration. This would allow pushcarts and stalls to be relocated there.

Commissioner Karachi, Syed Hasan Naqvi, Municipal Commissioner KMC, S.M. Afzal Zaidi, all deputy commissioners and officers were present at this event. Wahab said that during this drive all encroachments would be removed from M. A Jinnah Road, Saddar, Regal Market, Mobile Market, New M.A. Jinnah Road, Bohri Bazar and other areas of district South.

Deputy Commissioners also gave briefing about encroachments in their respective areas. Deputy Commissioner Central said that in his district, there are a lot of encroachments around Hyderi Food Street block H, North Nazimabad, Landi Kotal Chowrangi, Sindhi Hotel, Hussainabad Food Street, Allahwala Chowrangi North Karachi, Liaquatabad 10 number and Liaquatabad Supermarket. Besides removing encroachments, plan will be made in consultation with traffic police to ensure smooth flow of traffic on these roads.

Deputy Commissioner South said that there is traffic problem due to encroachments around MA Jinnah Road, Saddar, Regal Market, Cooperative Market, Bohri Bazar, Lea Market as traffic flow is affected due to parking of vehicles on New MA Jinnah Road.

Similarly, Deputy Commissioner West said that problems are being faced due to encroachments under Banaras flyover in his district. There are more encroachments around Orangi Town No10 and Qatar Hospital which have to be removed.

Deputy Commissioner Keamari identified areas regarding encroachments including Sher Shah, Manghopir road and other areas. He said that instead of planting trees and greening, space outside factories in Sindh Indisutrial and Trading Estate (SITE) area has been earmarked for parking vehicles. Factory owners will be requested to ensure that this space is made green and beautiful.

A briefing was given about encroachments at Tariq Road, Samama Shopping Center, Pehalwan Goth and other areas in East District also. Hassan Naqvi said that proposal to impose Section 144 on cutting road without permission is under consideration and it will be implemented soon. Joint strategy will be adopted for removal of encroachments in Karachi; no encroachment on Sharea Faisal will be tolerated. A large number of rickshaws are parked from Lasbela Chowk to Gurumandir due to which traffic is affected. Concerned association should be approached for solving this problem.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 27^th, 2024.