Commissioner Karachi, Roshan Ali Sheikh, on Friday said that Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) had so far retrieved 5,778 acres of encroached land worth Rs 43 billion during its anti-encroachment drive in the city within 18 months, while more than 100 people were arrested for land grabbing.
Talking to journalists during his visit to Karachi Press Club, he said that local police was also involved in land encroachment which prompted the KMC to create anti-encroachment squad to reclaim the government land. He said those arrested for land encroachment could face up to six years imprisonment.
He said the commissionerate system was long being awaited by the people as the Sindh Local Government System of 2001 could not meet the expectations of masses. He said he has yet to get the magistrate powers to use his authority. Commissioner said that 'ownership' of Karachi, price control, boosting trade and to ensure law and order situation were amongst his top priorities. Sheikh said that despite repeated warnings the practice to burn garbage in open was being carried out, adding that strict action would be taken against such elements soon under section 144.