The sandy beach: ATVs take over as no one is quite ‘shore’ who manages the beach

CBC and DHA both claim that they are not responsible for cleaning it up.

KARACHI: Last Saturday night at Sea View,  hundreds of camel and horse owners were tying up their animals. The beach was full but they still decided to take the rest of the night off. The visitors didn’t care, they had enough entertainment - the Pani Puri vendors, a group of young boys dancing along with the loud music and others were riding All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV) on the shore.

These ATVs, imported from Dubai, have started to cut into the business of the animal owners that are tying up their horses and camels. “A few years ago, someone bought these vehicles from a Dubai scrapyard and the move has ruined our business,” said Noor Bux, a camel owner . “The authorities have limited us in certain areas to promote the ATVs, even though they pay Rs200 every day, just like we do.”



Their attempts at trying to get back on a level footing with the ATVs have so far been in vain. “We held demonstrations against the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) administration and the police for charging us such a high price but it fell on deaf ears.”

Hundreds of animals that used to trot the beach have been sold and their owners have moved on as times have gotten tougher. “I am leaving the beach with Rs500 in my pocket, Rs200 will go to the DHA contractor, Rs100 will be for animal fodder and I have to feed my wife, mother and two children with the mere Rs200 that remain. How am I supposed to do that?” he asked.

The ATVs

The owners of the ATVs, however, have a different point of view. According to one of them, people are attracted to the change that their vehicles are providing and that is why their business is booming.

“It transforms the beach into a desert safari, the kind you find in Dubai and other Arabian states,” he said.

The visitors seem to agree with both sides. Nazimabad resident Muhammad Ali who frequents the beach said that his nephew wanted a camel ride while his son wanted to ride on an ATV. “We need both,” he concluded. “Both should be provided equal opportunities.”

Littered with litter

Despite an abandonment of entertainment riches, the lure of the beach has decreased considerably over the years as it gets littered with plastic bags and empty bottles.

Those at the beach all agree that something needs to be done about the increase in litter on the beach shore. However, few of them know who is responsible for it and apparently neither do the authorities.

Who is responsible?

A person by the name of Asghar Sayeen is the one who collects the money from the animal and ATV owners and the hawkers, who say that Sayeen has been contracted by the ‘authorities’. However, both the Clifton Cantonment Board (CBC) and DHA deny that the beach comes under their jurisdiction.

CBC spokesperson Amir Arbab did say that the authority manages the charge parking sites at the beach and the revenue goes towards cleaning the beach. However, Arbab insisted that it is DHA that collects money from those working at the beach, adding that DHA’s vigilance teams can be seen working in the area. “Any CBC slip that shows a payable amount written on it is fake,” claimed Arbab.

On the other hand, the DHA spokesperson was unaware of anyone by the name of Asghar Sayeen and refuted CBC’s claims that he worked for DHA.

“The DHA does not manage the beach and we did not give any contract to anyone,” he said. “We strongly reject CBC’s claims. Everything to do with the beach, from car parking to cleaning the beach, falls under CBC’s jurisdiction. If you want proof, go look at the payment slips.” 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29^th, 2014.