KARACHI, March 5: More than 500 encroachments were removed from Mir Karam Ali Talpur Road, Syedna Burhanuddin Road and around Empress Market in a massive operation carried out by

the anti-encroachment department of Saddar Town on Wednesday.

The operation was launched after receipt of scores of written complaints made by area residents to Saddar Town Nazim Farooq Memon Fariya and Municipal Officer Khalid Mahmood Shaikh about problems and inconveniences they were facing.

The Saddar Nazim, in order to redress the public grievances, assigned a special task to the anti-encroachment department which, with the help of machinery and administration, removed the encroachments.

During the operation, the anti-encroachment department encountered stiff resistance from the land mafia, who also attacked the operational camp set up in the area and damaged it.

Taking strict notice of the incident, the town administration filed an FIR against the attackers.

Later, the Town Nazim with other officials visited the area. On the occasion, a large number of people appreciated the action taken by the Town administration.

The Nazim directed the anti-encroachment department to remove all encroachments wherever these existed in the Saddar area and ensure that these did not re-emerge.

Saddar is a very important business and commercial centre of the city where tens of thousands of people come for their business activity and shopping.

But the encroachments caused traffic congestion and the pedestrians face problem while working their way through the encroached footpaths and roads.—APP