KARACHI: Mayor Wasim Akhtar said on Wednesday that all restaurants and other encroachments from Hill Park had been removed in an operation and similar action would be taken in other parks and playgrounds if these places were used for activities other than sports and recreation.

He said that the KMC’s anti-encroachment staff, with the help of heavy machinery and manpower, demolished three restaurants in Hill Park, and the vacated land was handed over to the charged parking department for use as parking area for visitors.

The mayor was talking to media persons while reviewing the ongoing anti-encroachment drive initiated under the orders of the Supreme Court.

He said that Hill Park was one of the historical parks in Karachi which will be restored to its original plan and visitors will be provided all required facilities.

Mr Akhtar said that the KMC had received a number of complaints against encroachments in different parts of the city, particularly in parks and places of recreation. “Therefore, all encroachers and persons involved in commercial activities in city parks, playgrounds and recreation places are advised to voluntarily stop their activities or action will be taken against them,” he warned.

The mayor said that citizens had appreciated recent action taken against encroachments and the operation would continue throughout Ramazan with the cooperation of citizens and traders’ community. He said the action against all encroachments must continue till the end of all such activities in city parks, playgrounds and recreation places.

The directives of the Supreme Court, he added, were followed in letter and spirit and all concerned departments had been directed to ensure implementation of these directives.

He also directed the KMC’s senior director anti-encroachments Bashir Siddiqui to ensure all encroachments were removed from Hill Park.

He said anti-encroachment operation around Empress Market in Saddar would continue throughout Ramazan.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2018