A CDGL official told The Express Tribune that the date was set at August 2 earlier, but was extended in a meeting of the committee formed by the district coordination officer (DCO) on July 30. The meeting was attended by Col (retd) Younas Ahmed, the CDGL representative, Mehbood Ali Sirki, the Anjuman-i-Tajiran Ferozepur Road chairman, Anjuman’s office bearers and 800 shopkeepers.
The traders were guaranteed during the meeting that the CDGL had no plans to demolish the shops, Qamar-ul-Islam, the district officer (Special Planning), said. He said that the traders were told that the CDGL intended only to remove irregularities and would impose fines if any were found in this regard. Mehboob Ali Sirki said that the traders were satisfied with the CDGL’s assurance. He said that they had already started submitting their building plans.
In connection with the Ferozepur Road remodeling project, the Town Planning branch of the CDGL had served notices to 1,463 businesses to submit their building plans by July 13. The notice warned that the shops of those who fail to submit their building plans would be sealed.
Qamar-ul-Islam said that the notices weren’t meant to threaten the shopkeepers, “It is a legal requirement. All shop owners should have their building plans that meet the relevant rules and regulations laid down by the Town Planning branch.”
Fearing that the CDGL wanted to demolish the buildings, the Anjuman-i-Tajiran office bearers had responded in a strong manner. They had warned of a three-day strike to start with in case the CDGL pressed ahead with ‘its plans’.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 7th, 2010.
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