LAKKI MARWAT: Anti-encroachment operations were launched in Lakki Marwat, Bannu and Karak district on Monday to clear roads and bazaars of temporary and permanent structures, obstructing smooth flow of traffic and people’s movement.

Additional assistant commissioner Mohammad Arif led the operation in Lakki city, said an official. He said that deputy commissioner Zeeshan Abdullah ordered the launch of operation on public complaints about traffic mess and inconvenience caused by illegally structures.

He said the anti-encroachment squad of the tehsil municipal administration used machinery to remove encroachments from the roadside in the Lorry Adda area.

The municipal workers also demolished makeshift outlets, kiosks and food stalls.

Battagram Bazaar also cleared of illegal structures

Mr Arif warned the traders against using roadsides for business activities. He said construction of illegal structures caused traffic mess and inconvenience to the general public.

Meanwhile, under the supervision of additional assistant commissioner Azmat Afridi, the workers of Ghaznikhel TMA removed illegally structures from the Tajori Bazaar.

Mr Afridi directed tehsil municipal officer Attaullah to set up dustbins and containers at different points in the bazaar. He asked the shopkeepers and residents to obtain no objection certificate from the municipal body before building any structure.

Also on Monday, municipal workers removed makeshift outlets from the new vegetable market in Bannu. The action was launched on the directives of deputy commissioner Abdul Hameed Khan.

An official said that some traders occupied the government land for business activity. He said municipal workers razed illegally outlets and retrieved the state land from occupants.

Assistant commissioner Salman Yousaf also led an anti-encroachment operation in the Takht Nusrati area of Karak district. The municipal workers assisted by police cleared roadsides of encroachments with the help of machinery.

In Battagram, the tehsil municipal administration launched an anti-encroachment drive in the main bazaar along the Karakoram Highway the other day.

TMA teams cleared encroachments from the roadsides. Almost all footpaths along the main road had been encroached upon.

Municipal workers removed ‘sitting areas’ from footpaths made by restaurants and makeshift eateries.

Dosti Rehman, TMA law enforcement officer, who led the anti-encroachment squad, asked traders not to encroach upon government property, warning that strict action would be taken against violators.

Warning letters were also issued to traders for encroaching upon the spaces in front of their shops.

Mr Rehman said the anti-encroachment drive would be extended to other areas of the district. “The TMA squad will work closely with the local administration and the police to ensure that all encroachments are removed and public spaces are restored to their original state.”

Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2025