KARACHI, Oct 2: Community leaders have expressed concern over the mushroom growth of industrial units and warehouses in residential areas of the old city areas of Karachi, saying these have become a public nuisance.

Most parts of the old city areas fall in the jurisdiction of the Saddar and Lyari towns.

Due to hectic commercial activity, the whole area has been converted into a commercial jungle and there is no difference between a commercial area and a residential one.

For years, the residents of old city areas have been pressing the authorities to put a ban on “hazardous” industrial units operating in residential areas.

They have also been demanding that a complete ban be imposed on warehousing facilities, which are posing serious health problems for people.

Score of warehouses exist in the congested localities of the old city while the number of “illegal factories” is increasing day by day.

Area people say most of these warehouses store highly dangerous chemicals hazardous to public health and the environment.

A community leader said these units were mostly housed in residential units and operated without paying any municipal taxes. These units were being charged electricity bills on domestic rates instead of commercial.

A survey of the locality showed that the residents were perturbed over the growing number of industrial units in their localities.

They urged authorities to take effective measures for removing them and to impose a complete ban on the operation of such units and warehousing in residential areas.

An NGO activist said that these industrial units worked day and night and were causing noise pollution and other environment related problems exposing people to serious health hazards.

He was of the view that the availability of warehousing facilities in residential areas was the main cause of establishment of industrial units there.

He maintained that “the situation is aggravating in terms of social degradation and environment pollution because of increase in volume of trade and commercial activity in Kharadar, Mithadar, Lea Market, Chand Bibi Road, Nanakwara and other areas.

Considering the gravity of the situation, they have demanded authorities to take a serious note of the situation and direct agencies concerned to take practical measures for the removal of public grievances.