KARACHI: Mayor Wasim Akhtar on Friday said that anti-encroachment operation in the city would continue and all illegally raised houses and shops would be removed.

He asked the people who have established either shops or houses on government land to avoid doing so or else they would themselves be responsible for the loss. “Encroachment would not be tolerated at Empress Market or other markets of the city to ensure smooth flow of traffic and provide relief to the people,” the mayor said while directing officers of anti-encroachment department.

Meanwhile, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s anti-encroachment department carried out operation at Empress Market, Preedy Street and Daudpota Road to remove illegal pushcarts, stalls and cabins. All that material was seized.

In another operation in district Central, illegal food stalls established on footpath and cabins were removed from 9000 Road to Saba Chowrangi in New Karachi Industrial Area. Relevant officials led both these operations while police personnel were also present to maintain law and order.

The officials warned the shopkeepers — who installed their advertisement boards on footpath — to remove the same themselves as the pedestrians are facing hardships owing to these. “The shopkeepers should voluntarily remove the boards or else the KMC would not be responsible for their loss as its anti-encroachment department would remove the same,” they added.

The mayor directed that the operation should continue till eradication of “encroachment mafia”.

Published in Dawn, July 11th, 2020