KARACHI, June 23: The reign of transporters and other encroachers in Pakistan Steel Town, Gulshan-i-Hadeed, has created immense civic and security problems for the residents. The PS has apparently taken no serious step towards this challenging situation despite all the hue and cry raised by residents and the press reports.

Incidents of thefts and robberies are on the rise and unchecked encroachments have defaced the entire PS residential area.

A large number of pushcarts and chappars have occupied the sides of main roads and streets. The L-7 Market is the main site where the encroachers have set up a parallel market which covers both sides of the road and a KDA plot.

Restaurants and stall holders have been doing a roaring business in all open places and playgrounds. The Zamzama Restaurant in Phase I has taken the lead in this kind of illegal activity.

The transporters plying coaches and buses on various city routes also park their vehicles in open places, streets and roads for the night, further adding to the miseries of the residents.

The residents have alleged that besides the increase in encroachments, conductors and drivers of these vehicles, who have no identity in most cases, are involved in thefts and other illegal activities, including the use of drugs and violating the sanctity of chaadar aur char deevari, as they sleep on the rooftops of their vehicles parked in the streets. These vehicles are also given a daily morning wash in the streets, causing the unnecessary wastage of potable water along with the flooding of streets.

The PS, under an agreement, has provided them a lot outside the colony for the purpose along with the required facilities. But the transporters still park their vehicles on the streets on the excuse that they are not safe there. “For the safety of the hundreds of coaches and buses, the transporters can easily afford one or two private security guards,” a group of residents said.

The PS Welfare department, meanwhile, has alleged that some representatives of UC Gulshan-i-Hadeed are supporting the encroachers for their personal and political considerations. “In recent meetings on these issues, UC representatives opposed a proposed clean-up operation aimed at these civic and security problem creators,” a PS’s Gulshan-e-Hadeed welfare cell official said.

“Our UC men have a soft corner for the encroachers,” a councillor confirmed.—APP