KARACHI: Disclosing plans for restoration and beautification of the interior and exterior surroundings of the iconic Empress Market and Karachi Zoo, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday highlighted the need for early rehabilitation of shopkeepers and traders affected in anti-encroachment drive in Saddar and other areas.

The chief minister was presiding over a meeting to review the pace of progress of ongoing megaprojects and conceive new schemes for the next financial year for Karachi.

He directed Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani to work out a plan for rehabilitation of the affected shopkeepers. “I want to rehabilitate them immediately by arranging stalls on a temporary basis under a short-term plan while in the long term land would be identified for establishment of a market to accommodate them,” he said.

The CM has also sought a proposal to set up ‘night market’ in Saddar

He also indicated to develop a pedestrian zone in Saddar.

‘Night market’ in Saddar

Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Shallwani proposed that a night market could be set up in Saddar where vendors could be adjusted so that they could work between 10pm and 3am.

The chief minister asked him to submit a proposal for consideration.

He also directed the LG minister to make necessary arrangement at the earliest for lifting of debris of the bulldozed structures at Empress Market and Karachi Zoo so that renovation and reconstruction of roads and a park for beautification of the area could be started.

“I have visited Empress Market and noticed that debris was still lying there ... this must be lifted,” he said and added that the British-era market would be restored to its original shape where a small park, a sitting place and other facilities for visitors could be developed.

The chief minister also directed LG secretary Niaz Soomro and Karachi package project director Khalid Masroor to start beautification works of Empress Market and initiate reconstruction of a befitting wall around the zoo and beautify the entire area.

Megaprojects reviewed

For next year’s budget, the chief minister directed planning and development chairman Mohammad Waseem to prepare schemes for development of a park at Arambagh, construction of a tunnel-like underpass between the Pearl Continental and Movenpick hotels and creation of a 50-foot lane for the traffic coming from Metropole towards Marriot.

He added that the tunnel between the two hotels would make the flow of traffic on the main road smooth and there would be a proper shopping market in the tunnel.

Reviewing the pace of different schemes launched under the Karachi package, the chief minister directed the project director to expedite work on widening of a bridge over Orangi Nullah near Habib Bank, construction of roads surrounding Lea Market for which Rs649.1 million had already been allocated, reconstruction of 8000 Road from Jam Sadiq Bridge to Dawood Chowrangi for Rs1.2 billion.

He also directed the commissioner to talk to army officials concerned for sparing land for construction of a U-turn at Natha Khan bridge for which Rs214.466m had been allocated.

The meeting was also attended by principal secretary to CM Sajid Jamal Abro, finance secretary Najam Shah and other senior officers.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2019