Advertisement Department of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) is issuing permission letters to advertising companies to erect billboards and signboards despite a ban on installation of new signboards in the metropolis, sources told Business Recorder on Monday.
Sources said that dozens of illegal signboards had been erected in various parts of city with the permission of advertisement department of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation. It is noteworthy to mention here that few months back a committee was constituted for conducting an inquiry regarding unauthorised advertising signboards, which marked some 50 boards in city against the bylaws. Following this, the illegal signboards were removed but after a very short span of time these advertisement re-emerged.
Sources said despite the violations of rules were pointed out many times, 'favourite' companies were still being granted permissions and complaints in this regard were not being heeded to. They claimed that these advertisers were being allowed to erect signboards in city against heavy kickbacks by the concerned officials of the department.
These unattractive and illegal signboards and hoarding are not only posing risk to lives of citizens but also giving an ugly face to the city. Apart from this, these are also causing million of rupees revenue loss to the city. According to the by-laws, there should be a distance of at least 200 feet in between each board, which is being ignored. When Municipal Commissioner, Matanat Ali Khan, was contacted in this regard, he said that crackdown against the illegal signboards and hoarding would be launched.
He said that he had directed the concerned department to submit a list of illegal advertising boards and hoarding in the city so that appropriate action could be taken. He said that he had also held a detailed meeting with the officials of Outdoor Advertising department who would be presenting him a detailed report of the illegal signboards in the city.
He said that steps were being taken to make Advertising Department more efficient, besides strict action would be taken against employees found involved in corruption. On the other hand Director Advertisement Akhtar Shaikh held Administrator Karachi responsible for issuing permissions to erect signboards in the city, saying that permissions are being granted on the orders of City Administrator Mohammad Hussain Syed.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has ordered an enquiry against Director Advertisement KMC Akhtar Ali Shaikh for allegations of corruption. The chief minister has in a letter written to Chairman Chief Minister Inspection Team dated February 4, 2012, had ordered an inquiry into the matter. Sources in Chief Minister's Inspection Team (CMIT) said that comments had been sought from Commissioner Karachi, Secretary Information and Administrator regarding the subject of the letter to go head with inquiry.