KARACHI, March 4: A children’s park has been built illegally on the municipal footpath near Hoti Market in Ranchore Line, Saddar Town.

The city government has ordered the Town administration to remove all encroachments near the market. It took serious notice of reports and public complaints that a boundary wall had illegally been built near the footpath of the market and a children’s park and shops were constructed on the encroached land.

The residents have accused the UC Nazim of removing dustbins on the footpath and alleged that after constructing the boundary wall, the municipal footpath was occupied and a children’s park was built on it.

The authorities of Saddar Town took a serious notice of the situation and launched an anti-encroachment operation to vacate the land some time ago.

But the Nazim of the union council forced the demolishing staff to stop work, saying that he had taken permission from the city government for construction of the park.

The residents maintained that the construction of the boundary wall on the footpath and road would create problems for pedestrians and motorists.

They said that the place was not suitable for construction of a children’s park, as it would ruin the look of the historic Hoti Market, which is a national heritage.

At a short distance from the market, there is an abandoned park and the residents pointed out that if developed it would be more useful for recreation of children.

The Hoti Market was constructed in 1926 on an Anglo-Indian style but due to neglect by authorities it has virtually turned into a garbage dump.

The market was named after Hasan Ali Hoti, a renowned philanthropist, who had donated the plot to the defunct KMC.