KMC to build shopping plaza for affected shopkeepers of Light House

Administrator Karachi Iftikhar Ali Shallwani on Friday directed that a modern shopping plaza should be established to provide alternate shops to affected shopkeepers of Light House and adjacent areas whose shop were razed during the Anti-Encroachment operation.

"The number of shops be increased from 297. Encroachment around Lee Market should also be removed to restore the historical market as the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation restored Empress Market into its original position. The allottees of Lee Market would not displace until they are given alternate shops".

"We do understand difficulties of the business community but they would also be accommodated in the resettlement of affectees" the Administrator passed these remarks while addressing to a delegation of All Karachi Tajir Ittehad led by Hakim Shah at the KMC building here. Senior Director Anti Encroachment Basheer Siddiqui, Director Land Shaikh Kamal, Director Estate Abdul Qayyum, and other officials were also present on the occasion.

Shallwani said that they wanted to provide every possible facility to the affected shopkeepers in a plaza at Siddique Wahab Road. Besides, the people of Lyari would also get the modern market to purchase essential commodities.

He said that unlike other shopping centers, the new plaza would also have an underground parking facility. He directed that the plaza's map should be formed under the supervision of KMC engineers and no compromise be made on the standard of the material.

The Administrator said that encroachments were being removed from Lee Market in the larger interest of Karachi as the market was amongst assets of the city. The delegation also apprised Shallwani about affectees of Mirza Adam Khan Market Baloch Market. He was informed that 500 shops were razed on directives of the apex court but no alternate places were given to the affected shopkeepers.

The Administrator assured that all affectees whose shops were razed Supreme Court's order would be given alternate places and said that directives have already been issued to the concerned department in this regard.