KARACHI, July 2: Due to poor condition of roads in the civilian areas of Cantonment Board Shah Faisal, four-wheelers, pillion riders and public transporters are compelled to drive their vehicles on footpaths.

According to residents of Block 19, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, which lies under the administrative jurisdiction of Cantonment Board, roads constructed in the area were never repaired or maintained by the authorities despite regular collection of maintenance charges by the board.

Contrary to this, some other areas of Gulistan-e-Jauhar, which are under the control of town administration, are being properly maintained and looked after.

Several notables of Block 19 complained that despite innumerable applications and personal visits to the office of Cantonment Board Shah Faisal, the attitude of authorities concerned had been indifferent and they were applying their resources only to benefit people living in in their own areas.

“The road leading to Jauhar Chowrangi from Rashid Minhas Road is in shambles and ditches measuring one-and-half feet deep do not allow vehicular traffic to use the road safely. Instead, people who have their own transport have begun using footpaths to reach their destinations,” Kazi Saleem, a resident of Crystal Homes of Block 19, Gulistan-e-Jauhar said.

Another cause of concern for the residents is the growing number of pushcarts, cabins, restaurants and street vendors, who have occupied almost every vacant place on footpaths in the area.

Some residents alleged that police were patronizing people who had encroached on footpaths in Gulistan-e-Jauhar and were extorting huge amount of money for providing protection to encroachers.

“Many a time residents of the area approached Town Administration Gulshan-i-Iqbal for removal of encroachments from footpaths; but on every occasion police intervened and supported the illegal occupants,” a female resident said.

Residents of the area strongly criticized the indifferent attitude of authorities and demanded of Sindh governor and chief minister to use their influence over Cantonment Board to get rid of the problems faced by them.—PPI