Anti-encroachment drive fails to get off the ground

15-day ultimatum enters final days, with less than 10% reportedly removed

KARACHI:

With just three days left before the expiry of Mayor Murtaza Wahab's 15-day ultimatum to clear the city of encroachments, the anti-encroachment drive appears to have fallen flat, with less than 10 per cent of illegal structures and occupations reportedly removed over the past 12 days.

The dismal progress has raised serious questions about the performance of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation's (KMC) Anti-Encroachment Department and the enforcement of the mayor's directives, while reports suggest that the position of its Senior Director, Sher Ali, may also be at risk.

Mayor Wahab had taken serious notice of the mushrooming encroachments across Karachi and what he described as largely cosmetic operations by the relevant departments. On October 24, he directed anti-encroachment officials to launch an immediate citywide crackdown and clear illegal occupations within 15 days. However, with the deadline now just around the corner, there are few signs of any meaningful progress.

Sources familiar with the operations described the department's performance over the past 12 days as disappointing, claiming that even 10% of the encroachments had yet to be removed. They alleged that, under the department's conventional operating methods, encroachers were often tipped off ahead of scheduled operations, allowing them to move their goods and other belongings to safer locations. As a result, the drives frequently amounted to little more than symbolic exercises.

The operations have also witnessed isolated clashes between enforcement teams and encroachers, including a confrontation in Pehlwan Goth. More tellingly, the KMC has reportedly failed to clear encroachments even from the vicinity of its own head office, further exposing the gap between official directives and ground realities.

Encroachments continue to plague several parts of the city, including Liaquatabad Super Market in District Central; the areas surrounding Empress Market, Bohri Bazaar, Jama Cloth Market and Bolton Market in Saddar; Shahrah-e-Pakistan, and North Nazimabad.