Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shallwani on Tuesday urged Pakistan Railways (PR) to immediately cancel leases of all commercial entities including fuel pumps, factories and workshops along Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) to help reviving the long-delayed public sector transport project as per the Supreme Court (SC) directives.
In a meeting with stakeholders to review the progress of anti-encroachment operation at his office, Shallwani said the drive would continue smoothly till the clearance of the 50-feet right of way (ROW) on the both sides of the track.
The joint mechanism to clear ROW was devised by PR, anti-encroachment cell, local police, and district administration under the supervision of Commissioner Karachi on May 14.
Deputy Commissioners of respective districts also briefed about progress of on-going operation. They said the drive will be conducted as per the plan with engaging people of respective areas to remove their illegal settlements and shift to safer places.
Commissioner also directed to ensure regular patrolling in their respective jurisdictions to personally review the operation. He said under SC direction, no leniency will be allowed to anyone and the top court orders would be implemented in letter and spirit.
He has sympathized with the people affected, but said they would be compensated/resettled by PR. He said a comprehensive rehabilitation plan is being evolved by PR and the same would be presented before the Sindh government by next week for implementations.
Earlier, members of the civil society and affected people of KCR led by Karamat Ali, Jibran Nasir, Faisal Edhi and others met with Commissioner who appraised their grievances and issues of affected people. They said the providing shelter was the responsibility of the State. "We are not opposing KCR, but it should be examined and implemented judiciously," Jibran said, urging the government to resolve the issue on humanitarian grounds not on the cost of people.