KARACHI, Feb 22: City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal has directed that Hawkesbay truck stand should be revived according to its original layout and master plan and action be taken against the shopkeepers who have broken the wall and put up doors outside.
He was talking to a delegation of transporters, led by Malik Javed, which met him here on Wednesday to discuss transporters’ problems and matters pertaining to truck stand.
DCO Karachi Fazlur Rehman, EDO Revenue Saleh Farooqi, EDO Transport Athar Hussain, EDO Works and Services Sarfraz Ali Shah were also present.
Mustafa Kamal said that the present location of the truck stand is not appropriate and the city government was carrying out planning for Karachi for the next 50 years.
“This will also entail consideration of problems of transporters so as to provide them better facilities. Till then, steps will be taken for providing facilities at existing truck stand.”
He said that work would start soon for laying water and sewerage lines at a cost of Rs 8 million while Hawkesbay Road was being widened.
He said action would be initiated against shopkeepers who have put up doors on the outer side of the truck stand. He advised them to wind up their illegal businesses voluntarily before the action starts against them.
City Nazim pointed out that Hawkesbay is not only the recreational spot for 14 million people of Karachi, but people from whole of Pakistan come here for recreation, and, therefore, the city government wants to keep the approach roads totally encroachment and hurdle free.
He said the movement of trucks and heavy vehicles would be closed down gradually so that people going to the coast may not face any problem.
He directed that arrangements for sanitation and cleaning at truck stand be improved.
He announced constitution of a committee which would also have representatives of transporters and take decisions with their consultation.
Regarding godowns on Hawkesbay Road, a committee, headed by EDO Revenue Saleh Farooqi, was set up which also included representatives of godown owners.
In a meeting held under the chairmanship of Nazim Karachi, it was decided that uptil now only 10 per cent godowns have been shifted and this has caused many problems and people going to Hawkesbay cannot travel in small vehicles, and if 100 per cent godowns are shifted, it would become difficult for people to move and the advantage of this only recreational spot would nullify.
He asked the godown owners that after the shifting of Hawkesbay Truck Stand, the entry of all heavy vehicles would be stopped and, therefore, a decision regarding godowns would have to be taken.
He said in the public interest, it was necessary to shift the godowns constructed without KBCA approval.
However, a decision in this regard would be taken only after presentation of a report by the committee.—APP
