KARACHI, March 31: In a major anti-encroachment operation, more than 1,400 pushcarts and vending stalls were removed from Empress Market and its surrounding areas.

The action was part of the ongoing campaign launched by Saddar Town administration’s Land Department during which a large number of encroachments were removed on Monday from Preedy Street, Mansfield Street, Mir Karam Ali Talpur Road, Dr Daudpota Road, Raja Ghazanfar Ali Road, Zaibunnisa Street and Abdullah Haroon Road.

A heavy posse of rangers along with personnel from Saddar, Artillery Maidan and Preedy police stations as well as traffic police remained standby to meet any eventuality.

Some of the encroachers voluntarily moved out of the area while all others were forced to wind up their business and leave the roads, streets and footpaths clear.

The operation was supervized by Saddar Town’s Nazim Farooq Faria, TMO Khaliq Mehmood Sheikh, TPO Sanaullah Abbasi, Town Officer (Regulation) Zubair Mughal and DSP (Preedy) Aijaz Hashmi.

The Nazim asked the officials of Land Department and its anti-encroachment cell to ensure that the encroachers did not reappear, otherwise, they were warned, they could face strict disciplinary action.

Meanwhile, the town administration has set up one camp near Regal Chowk and another near Rainbow Centre to prevent the encroachers from occupy the roads and streets again.