KARACHI, Jan 24: The Malir Town authorities have finally decided to remove massive encroachments in front of the Liaquat Market as these are hindering the smooth flow of traffic.

The encroachments included vendors as well as shops built on both sides of the roads in front of the market, along a maternity home, and at least three government secondary schools.

Moreover, a chowrangi in front of the Liaquat Market has also been converted into a mini-shopping centre where several shops have been built illegally.

The shops were built and sold by activists of the MQM (Haqiqi), and despite several notices served on the shopkeepers, the land was not vacated by shopkeepers.

Prior to the induction of the new setup in the city, the former SDM of Model Colony, Farhan Junejo, had held several meetings with the union of Liaquat Market and had prepared drawings pertaining to demolition.

He had submitted the file to the then deputy commissioner seeking police backup support, but the plan did not materialise as the then DC took no interest, and later, the plan suffered after the city government assumed charge.

During the last five years, the plan remained in the doldrums and officials patronised the encroachers with the support of the then elected leadership.

“The removal of encroachments in front of the Liaquat Market is necessary as all buses and mini-buses pass through the roads in front of the market, and vehicles remain stranded owing to traffic congestions,” said a commuter.

Inquiries revealed that due to the establishment of a new market on the land meant for the roundabout, the width of the road had been reduced from 65 feet to only 25 feet.

The plan includes restoration of the roundabout and the approaching roads to their full width of 65 feet for which the elected leadership of the locality is keen to implement the plan.

Prior to the conversion of the roundabout, a small office of the KWSB tax department also existed there, which was demolished and space was created for a parking lot. It was then slowly converted into a mini-shopping centre with activists of the MQM (Haqiqi) making millions of rupees.

The contractor-mafia helped build shops using concrete structures.

As the new market was located outside the main Liaquat Market, a majority of shopkeepers of the market purchased shops to turn them into showrooms or to utilize them for storage of raw material.

Area people have maintained that the supremacy of law should be ensured and those occupying spaces along the roads and the roundabout should be removed, and the plan for widening roads should be completed simultaneously.

The Federal Minister for Communications, Shamim Ahmed, visited the spot the other day along with the area MPA and town nazim, and instructed that the task should be completed as soon as possible so that no more traffic jams occurr and so that the market area was given a beautiful look.