SAHIWAL: The divisional administration has claimed that a total of 5,732 permanent and 4,355 temporary structures were removed by sealing 182 shops and clearing 12 parking areas in 61 bazaars in Sahiwal city over the last two months during the ongoing anti-encroachment drive.

As per official data, there are a total 74 bazaars in Sahiwal district, where 12 alternative parking spaces have been created by removing 1,926 pushcarts.

Commissioner Shoaib Iqbal, who spearheaded the drive, said approximately 52 kanals of commercial state land worth Rs7,868 million have been retrieved by removing illegal structures. The operation is still ongoing in 13 bazaars, but local shop owners and traders have voluntarily started to remove illegal structures, according to the commissioner.

During the massive drive, five-decade-old illegal shops/cabins totaling 2,150 have been removed from various bazaars, freeing 5-7 feet portions of roads of encroachments. Main city roads have also been purged of encroachments built on 10-14 feet, reducing traffic congestion.

The operation was conducted in 28 bazaars of Sahiwal, 12 of Chichwatni, two of Kameer and 19 bazaars under the jurisdiction of the district council.

Shahid Mahmood, Deputy Commissioner, added that 3,880, 100, and 24 kanals of state land have been retrieved in 86/6-R and 94/9-L villages in Sahiwal tehsil, and 27/12-L village in Chichawatni tehsil, respectively.

He said the operation was conducted in such a just way that no one complained of any discrimination.

The DC said local stakeholders, including Markazi Anjuman Tajran, Sahiwal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, local leaders of traders’ bodies in different bazaars, PML-N parliamentarians, civil society, and line departments, including highway, PTCL, Mepco, PICIIP contractors, and lawyers’ bodies, were taken on board to ensure a smooth anti-encroachment drive.

The commissioner said the next major tasks include the restoration of all bazaars to their original design, retrieval of damaged drains, management of electricity connections, shifting of electricity poles, swift recovery of arrears, and fresh auctions of shops to legal occupants.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2025