KARACHI, Jan 4: The recent removal of encroachments in some parts of Saddar is welcome, but the administration has carried out the drive indiscriminately as it has hurt even those poor vendors and hawkers who were not obstructing the movement of either vehicles or pedestrians or were an ugly sight because of their presence, people complain.

The worst sufferers are sellers of old and second-hand books, who are not being allowed to set up their stalls. People, especially book-lovers, demanded of the administration and the city Nazim, Naimatullah Khan, to look into the matter and allow the poor booksellers to set up their stalls at Regal Chowk. “It is cruel to deprive people of their livelihood,” they said.

Around 4-5 booksellers had their stalls near Regal Chowk, a place where they were not hindering the movement of vehicles and pedestrians or proving a nuisance in any way. In these days when the prices of books have skyrocketed and they have gone beyond the reach of the common man, these booksellers cater to the needs of book-lovers with limited incomes.

By removing the stalls of second-hand books, the administration has deprived the poor booksellers of their livelihood and also book-lovers of books at affordable prices.—SG