RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s anti-encroachment operation continued in busy Saddar area on Tuesday, the 2nd consecutive day.

The fresh drive began by anti-encroachment department of KMC in compliance with the Supreme Court (SC) orders after the Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar has given a 15-day deadline to the local administration and the law enforcement agencies to clear all encroachments from the city.

The 2nd phase of the operation was conducted at Preedi Street, Parking Plaza, Cooperative Market, Rainbow Centre, Empress Market and the adjoining streets of Passport Office in Saddar where shops, cabins, sheds, pushcarts etc., on encroached land were removed. Large size signboards displayed on rooftop of buildings were also removed.

Metropolitan Commissioner Dr Syed Saifur Rehman supervised the operation that was assisted by police, rangers, SSGC and K-Electric’s officials also assisted the operations.

The KMC anti-encroachment department’s officials, police and city wardens arrived at the site along with heavy machinery and remained busy throughout the day removing the concrete shops, pushcarts, roadside juice stalls, fruits and other vending carts from the encroached land.

The operation caused massive gridlock on roads at Saddar and nearby areas creating hardships for motorists to make their ways.

“The apex court has given us clear direction to clean the city from all sorts of encroachments. We are acting painstakingly and diligently to clear the city from the menace of encroachment,” KMC official said. It is the commitment of Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar that the lost glory of the historic monument – the Empress Market would be restored.

The operation helped pedestrians walk easily after the removal of cabins, vending carts, stalls, etc.

Prior to this operation, the Metropolitan Commissioner said, KMC had informed all the shopkeepers and roadside vendors to vacate footpaths and remove sheds from shops lest be ready for the crackdown as per the SC orders.

In the 2nd phase of operation, he said, four teams were constituted that conducted separate operations at four different locations in the Saddar vicinity.

On Monday, in the initial phase of anti-encroachment move that was conducted in Daudpota Road, Zaibunnisa Street, Mansfield Street, Empress Market, adjoining streets of Passport Office, Regal Chowk and the area opposite to the Parking Plaza, where around 100 shops were removed.

The seized valuables were transported on vehicles and dumped in KMC store.