The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) is starting an operation against encroachments on major arteries of Saddar from today. This was decided at a meeting chaired by Metropolitan Commissioner Dr Syed Saif-ur-Rehman at the Commissioner Office, here on Sunday, said a statement. The meeting was also attended by the representatives of different organisations taking part in this operation.
The district administration, Rangers, police, district municipal administration South, Cantonment Board, Sindh Solid Waste Management Board, SSGC and K-Electric will take part in the anti-encroachment operation which will be carried out in three phases. The shopkeepers and other trade community were informed through banners and pamphlets to remove the encroachments or these will be removed by anti-encroachments staff.
The removal of encroachments from alongside road and pavements around Empress Market will begin today. In the first phase all encroachments will be removed from footpaths, and in the second phase encroachments will be removed alongside shops. In the third phase, all encroachments will be removed in and around Empress Market to restore this building in original shape.
Addressing the meeting, the Metropolitan Commissioner said that K-Electric should disconnect the electricity supply to all those pushcarts, patharas and other illegal structures which were established in front of shops in Saddar. He said that action will be taken against such officials of K-Electric who were indulged in providing electricity to encroachers. He said that police and rangers would provide cooperation in this connection and all machinery required for this operation has been arranged. He said that the footpaths' repair and maintenance work will also be done.
The Metropolitan Commissioner directed the director anti-encroachments to form 14 teams with six persons in each which necessary machinery and vehicles. Clear number should be affixed on these trucks which deliver the seized items, he added.