Karachi mayor urged to identify alternate business places for traders

The city traders on Monday urged Mayor Karachi to ensure alternate business places for the traders whose shops were razed to the ground by Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) as part of the anti-encroachment operation across the city.

A delegation of the Karachi Tajir Ittehad led by its Chairman Ateeq Mir called on the Mayor Wasim Akhtar in his office and requested him to expedite the provision of alternate business places for the traders who have been displaced in the anti-encroachments action.

KMC's anti anti-encorachment department in compliance with the Supreme Court orders had demolished hundreds of shops located at various city neighborhoods a year back, however, the civic body assured to provide alternate places for its affected tenants. It has held balloting to accommodate such traders at its markets, but scores [of such traders] are still waiting for the allotment of shops to resume their businesses.

Mayor on this occasion said the Sindh Government has not given even a single penny during last eleven months for uplift projects in the city. He posed question as to how KMC could continue development schemes under such grim situation.

He said the federal and provincial governments should spend some amount from the revenue collection from the port city. Deputy Mayor Arshad Hasan, Chairmen of different committees and departments heads were also present on this occasion.

The traders also urged the Mayor for cleaning of drain near Civil Hospital, removal of encroachments and transforming the Robson Road near Jama Cloth Market at model road. Mayor said that trade and business community are major contributor in the national exchequer, therefore, they should get more facilities.

The roads are being widened and footpaths are being cleared from encroachers to provide convenience to smooth movement of vehicular traffic and pedestrians.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019