KARACHI, Sept 21: In a massive action launched on the directive of Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad, around 29 shops were demolished around the shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi at Clifton with the help of heavy machinery.

The operation was carried out on Tuesday night under the supervision of Saddar Town caretaker Mukhtar Hussian. The action was part of renovation planned for the shrine.

During his last visit to the shrine, the governor had taken notice of the problems and difficulties faced by the visitors due to traffic jams on the main road. He had ordered demolition of shops providing alternate space to shopkeepers so that repair and renovation of the shrine could be carried out as per plan.

Mukhtar Hussain said that shops had been demolished with the consent of shopkeepers. He said that work on construction of new shops had been started on the land of Auqaf department behind the shrine before initiation of demolition action.

He said that gas and electricity connections would be given to the shops in the next three or four days where after the shopkeepers could start their business.

He said that parking space was also being developed within the precincts of the shrine so that no hindrance was caused to traffic flow.

Police officials, fire brigade, ambulance besides KESC and SSGC vehicles were also called during the demolition. —APP