Capital city police asked to assist administration in raids. PHOTO: FILE
PESHAWAR: The Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) on Monday closed 19 clinics in Hayatabad following the court’s orders to clamp down on commercial activities in residential areas of the city.
On September 25, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) ordered PDA to shut down all commercial buildings in residential areas of the city and also directed the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco), Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited and town administration to disconnect electricity, natural gas and water supply to these establishments.
“The owners were given notices immediately after the high court’s orders, but they did not abide by it,” said PDA Inspector Tariq Khan, adding the notices were followed by advertisements in the mainstream newspapers.
Capital city police was also asked to provide policemen to assist the administration in raids. Last Friday, the officials closed nine guest houses, also in the residential areas of Hayatabad, each stretching over more than 500 square yards. “We did not face resistance from any of the owners,” said Khan.
Three hundred such commercial buildings have been listed by the PDA. These include restaurants, offices, schools, health clinics among others. Their names, however, could not be acquired. PDA has also issued notices to schools to vacate the plots in different residential areas of the city including Warsak Road, University Town and Hayatabad – a move strongly opposed by school owners who consequently held news conferences to criticise the authorities. “So far, there is no plan to use force against them,” Khan clarified.
While such activities are not allowed in residential blocks, locals have also complained about the nuisance of having commercial buildings in the suburbs. This, however, is not a new occurrence. An operation was also carried out in August 2011, but they reopened soon after the raids ended.
Though appreciative of the efforts, locals expressed concern over the effectiveness of these operations. “Such actions have been taken before too. However, each time businesses start functioning again after a few days,” said Waheedullah, one of the locals, asking authorities to close down all such shops permanently.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 8th, 2013.
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