Anti-encroachment drive to be started at Karachi's University Road today

KARACHI: Karachi Development Authority (KDA) on Thursday decided to launch anti-encroachment drive at city’s University Road, ARY News reported.

As per details, as part of the anti-encroachment drive initiated in light of the Supreme court’s orders, KDA’s anti-encroachment team has decided to start the drive at University Road from Hassan square till Safoora Chowrangi today evening.

During the drive, illegal sunshades and sign boards of the shops will be be razed while shopkeepers have been advised to remove their illegal sunshades and sign boards ‘voluntarily’ before the commencement of the drive.

The Supreme Court on October 27 had directed Mayor Karachi, Wasim Akhtar to remove all encroachments from the city’s amenity plots and pavements with the help of law enforcement agencies, and granted a 15-day deadline to city authorities for compliance of its orders.

According to the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) report about the progress made so far in the anti-encroachment drive from November 5 to November 15, as many as 2500 shops were razed at Empress Market and its adjoining Daudpota Road during the anti-encroachment drive.

Similarly 480 illegal shops were demolished in the city’s Sohrab Goth Area. While 150 shops at Sarmad Shaheed Road were also bulldozed.

It may be recalled that, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on November 20, had directed Mayor Karachi to include heritage experts to supervise the renovation of Empress Market, so that it could be maintained in its original shape.

He expressed determination that Karachi will be beautified to the extent that people across the world will come to visit the city.