• Five KMC officials suspended over poor performance

• Sharjeel announces joint crackdown on encroachments on major thoroughfares, including University Road, Peoples Bus Service routes and illegal bus terminals to ease traffic congestion

• Wahab acknowledges shortcomings in the drive, vows to continue efforts to make the city encroachment-free

KARACHI: The Sindh government on Thursday stepped up efforts to rid the city of encroachments, announcing a “large-scale crackdown” on major roads, public transport routes and illegal bus terminals, as the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s (KMC) ongoing anti-encroachment campaign faces criticism over its failure to achieve the desired results within the stipulated timeframe.

The drive to clear the city of encroachments came from the Sindh government after Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab’s 15-day deadline expired without significant improvement, prompting the KMC administration to suspend five of its Anti-Encroachment Department officials over alleged negligence and poor performance.

The provincial government’s decision was taken at a meeting held under the chairmanship of Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon. During the meeting, it was agreed that police, city administration and the Transport Department would jointly take action against encroachments.

A statement issued after the meeting said, “In the first phase of the Sindh government decision, an operation will be carried out on a priority basis on major roads of the city, including University Road, as well as various routes of the [PBS] Peoples Bus Service”.

During the meeting, the departments concerned were directed to take immediate measures to remove encroachments along the PBS routes and other illegal encroachments obstructing the smooth flow of traffic.

In addition, it was decided to shift illegal bus terminals established in different areas of the city, including Sohrab Goth, outside the main city.

“Encroachments on Karachi’s major roads and Peoples Bus Service routes cause serious difficulties for citizens and passengers,” the statement quoted the senior minister as saying.

“Illegal occupations and obstructions on roads affect the smooth flow of traffic, increase fuel expenses and also create difficulties in the movement of public transport. To provide better travel facilities to citizens, it is necessary to make major roads and bus routes free from encroachments,” he added.

The senior minister directed the departments concerned to take action against illegal encroachments under a joint strategy and launch an operation against illegal bus terminals to reduce traffic pressure on the city’s roads and ease citizens’ daily commute.

Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi, Secretary Transport Asad Zamin, Karachi Police Chief Azad Khan, DIG Traffic Pir Muhammad Shah, DIG East Farrukh Lanjar and other relevant officials attended the meeting.

The latest move follows the mayor’s Oct 24 directive, when he gave the Anti-Encroachment Department 15 days to remove encroachments across the city and warned its staff of strict consequences if they failed to achieve tangible results.

Five officials suspended

However, Mayor Wahab’s 15-day drive to clear roads, footpaths and public spaces of encroachments failed to deliver the desired results within the stipulated deadline, prompting the city administration to take disciplinary action against five officials of the Anti-Encroachment Department, including a deputy director.

The officials have been suspended over alleged negligence and poor performance, while departmental proceedings are also being initiated against them.

According to an official notification issued by the KMC’s Senior Director of Human Resource Management (HRM), the suspended

Anti-Encroachment Department officials have been directed to report to the HRM Department immediately.

The notification states that the action has been taken over “negligence and unsatisfactory performance” in carrying out anti-encroachment operations, while show-cause notices and charge sheets would also be issued to the officials found responsible for failing to perform their duties.

Those named in the suspension orders include Deputy Director North Karachi Younus, In-charge New Karachi Naeem, In-charge Liaquatabad Nadeem and Liaquatabad area inspectors Mahfooz and Mukarram.

While laying the foundation stones for development projects in district East’s Chanesar Town on Thursday, Mayor Wahab publicly acknowledged that the anti-encroachment drive had fallen short of achieving the desired results within the stipulated timeframe but vowed to continue the campaign with all available resources.

“We have been facing challenges in this anti-encroachment campaign,” he said in response to a question.

“As you all know, our teams are unarmed and face resistance whenever they take action against encroachments in accordance with the law. But let me assure you that these challenges will not discourage us, and we will continue our efforts to make this city encroachment-free,” he added.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2026