KARACHI: Commissioner Karachi Syed Hassan Naqvi has directed all Deputy Commissioners to continue and intensify anti-encroachment operations across their respective districts to ensure the smooth flow of traffic and prevent illegal occupations of roads and footpaths.
Chairing a review meeting, the Commissioner instructed officials to remove roadside hotels established illegally on public land with due diligence and take legal action against those responsible in accordance with the law.
Naqvi also commended officers actively working to improve civic amenities through sustained campaigns against encroachments, the sale of unsafe CNG cylinders and violations of official price controls.
Reviewing reports submitted by deputy commissioners on measures taken to improve civic facilities, enforce price control and remove encroachments, the Commissioner stressed the need to further strengthen these efforts to achieve lasting results.
According to a handout issued by the Commissioner’s Office, Assistant Commissioner SITE Muhammad Yousuf led a comprehensive anti-encroachment operation in the Sher Shah area, beginning from the Maripur Road–Lyari Expressway junction.
The operation targeted several illegal structures, including two major permanent encroachments. An illegally established timber market operating beneath a bridge was completely demolished, while another operation removed unauthorized structures erected by a construction company that had illegally occupied government land. The company had constructed a cattle shed and other structures without permission, all of which were dismantled during the operation.
Authorities also cleared a large, systematically developed illegal parking facility that had occupied a vast area and was causing significant traffic congestion. During the drive, officials removed between 50 and 80 illegally parked vehicles, including both private and commercial vehicles.
The operation was carried out with the assistance of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), the Anti-Encroachment Force and local police.
Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner North Nazimabad Naimat Khan conducted operations against encroachments in North Nazimabad, removing illegal occupations from footpaths and roadsides. During the drive, authorities confiscated chairs, tables and other items placed illegally by roadside hotels on public spaces.
In a separate operation, Assistant Commissioner Bin Qasim Sajjad Ansari launched a crackdown on LPG retailers at Ghaghar Phatak for selling liquefied petroleum gas above the government-notified price. Officials inspected three shops, sealed one outlet for violations and imposed fines of Rs10,000 on three shopkeepers.
Commissioner Naqvi reiterated that the district administration would continue its enforcement campaign to eliminate encroachments, ensure compliance with official pricing regulations and improve civic facilities in the city.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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