MULTAN: A sandstorm knocked down more than 50 billboards, all illegally installed and loosely fitted, of different size and weight in Cantonment and city areas on Sunday night.

The storm also disrupted power supply, damaged houses and uprooted trees.

A 20x60 billboard, installed at Imperial Cinema Chowk, smashed down on to road while another 30x90 metal billboard installed in the parking of Mall Plaza was tore down in the cantonment area of the Cantonment Board Multan (CBM).

Over 40 boards in 10x20 size at different city spots, three 20x60 boards (two at Kutchery Chowk and one on Abdali Road) and one 15x45 board (Askari Bypass) failed to weather the storm. These places of the city are supervised by the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA).

Although the installation of a billboard of 30x90 is not allowed in the city areas but there are three such billboards staring down the commuters and motorists in the cantonment area and one in the city area.

Hundreds of illegal boards in the PHA jurisdiction have been installed without any check.

Former district coordination officer Zahid Saleem Gondal had launched action against illegal publicity billboards and banners a couple of years ago, and had directed the PHA to remove the billboards, dubbing them a constant threat to human lives. His warning fell on deaf ears.

Again, Deputy Commissioner Nadir Chattha also directed the PHA authorities to remove illegal billboards, particularly installed on rooftops but the PHA authorities showed reluctance to follow his orders.

Members of public have demanded that a survey be conducted to count the exact number of billboards in the city.

PHA Public Relations Officer Jalaluddin said that the authority was unable to remove illegal billboards due to the shortage of field staff while the ongoing recovery campaign was also hampering the boards’ removal.

“After July, illegal billboards will be removed,” he said.

As the PHA has declared the installation of boards illegal, in the CBM areas, it is legal to erect such boards.

A couple of years back, the CBM administration had allowed the re-installation of advertising billboards at the rooftop of a shopping plaza from where a gigantic billboard was removed by the board authorities calling it a serious threat to the lives of the people.

Sources said the board administration had several times planned to remove the gigantic billboard installed in the parking area of Mall Plaza but some hidden hands foiled the plans every time.

CBM Publicity In Charge Salman Shah said the administration had already decided to remove the board at Imperial Cinema Chowk in a day or two but it fell on Sunday.

He said that there was no ban on the installation of boards on rooftops and that 30x90 billboards were also legal.

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2017