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KARACHI, May 21: The two-week cleanliness campaign that entered 10th day on Wednesday has, so far, failed to show any improvement in the sanitary condition as most of the city’s busy markets remained littered with dirt and filth.
A number of markets, visited by Dawn on Wednesday, not only presented an ugly sight owing to the usual unhygienic condition while most of the roads and footpaths of such commercial areas continued to remain under illegal occupation of encroachers displaying their merchandize, thereby causing inconvenience to shoppers.
These markets and commercial areas included Burnes Road, Karimabad’s Bazaar-i-Faisal and Meena Bazaar, main Tariq Road and the adjacent commercial area, and Plaza Market.
Although removal of encroachment from footpaths and roads, tree plantation, wiping out narcotics dens and elimination of mini cinema houses, are also part of the cleanliness campaign launched on May 12, most of the towns have, so far, taken no measures in this regard.
A visit to Karimabad’s Bazaar-i-Faisal and Meena Bazaar showed that a number of stall-holders have sprung up on footpaths and one can see all sorts of rubbish and filthy material beneath the benches of those doing business on the footpaths of these bazaars.
Besides, with the setting up of wooden-cum-iron shops and presence of a number of vendors, the width of footpaths of both the markets, particularly of Bazaar-i-Faisal, have been reduced to hardly four feet, causing hindrance in the movement of pedestrians in general and women shoppers, in particular.
TARIQ ROAD: Filthy environment continues to prevail along the main Tariq Road and its adjacent commercial area.
A large number of vendors and stall-holders have re-emerged on a major portion of Tariq Road’s footpaths, leaving inadequate walkway for shoppers.
At the some place, vendors have placed their merchandize on either side of the footpaths and also on a portion of the road meant for parking. As a result, women shoppers are forced to walk in a zig-zag manner and often fall victim to eve-teasing and pickpocket.
Moreover, footpaths of Tariq Road often remain littered with dirt and polythene bags. Such a situation can be witnessed seen just in front of National Bank’s Tariq Road branch and a number of shops, yet neither the shopkeepers nor the concerned sanitary staff bother to ensure cleanliness.
People residing in the vicinity of the commercial area complain that since all the streets of the market have been heavily encroached upon, motorists visiting the market for shopping purpose hardly find parking space while the shoppers have also been facing immense difficulties.
Filthy water gushing out from choked sewerage lines usually remain accumulated on a number of streets of the commercial area, creating an stinking environment in and around the market.
The residents and visitors regret that although overflowing gutters have become a matter of routine in the commercial area, the concerned officials of the city government’s Water and Sanitation Department have not yet taken measures to rectify the recurring problem of clogged sewerage lines.
BURNES ROAD: A stinking atmosphere continues to prevail around the famous food point — Burnes Road — where footpaths on either side of the road (from Fresco Chowk to Government Women College, Frere Road) have been encroached upon by hotels, barbecue shops and vendors selling different food items and other merchandize.
Garbage and other rubbish material soaked in filthy water often remain accumulated all along the footpaths and yet the people could be seen enjoying their food without caring for their health.
