KARACHI: Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has kicked off a fresh anti-encroachment operation at different parts of the city. KMC's Anti-Encroachment Department carried out operation at Empress Market, Preedy Street and Dawood Pota Raod to remove illegal pushcarts, stalls and cabins. Material seized during the course of operation was submitted at KMC store.

In another operation in District Central, illegal food stalls established on footpath, cabins and Patharas were removed from 9000 Road to Saba Chowrangi in New Karachi Industrial Area.

Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar said that anti-encroachment operation in the city would continue and all illegally raised houses and shops would be removed. He asked the people who establish either shops or houses on the government's land to avoid doing that or else they would themselves be responsible for the loss.

"Encroachment would not be tolerated at Empress Market or other markets of the city to ensure smooth flow of traffic and provide relief to the people," the Mayor said this while directing officers of Anti-Encroachment Department.

Meanwhile, the Director Anti-Encroachment Basheer Siddiqui led both these operations while police personnel were also present to maintain law and order.

Siddiqui warned the shopkeepers - who installed their advertisement boards on footpath - to remove the same themselves as the pedestrians are facing hardships owing to those boards.

"The shopkeepers should voluntarily remove the boards or else the KMC would not be responsible for their loss as its Anti-Encroachment Department would remove the same," he added. The Mayor directed that the operation should continue till eradication of encroachment mafia.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020