Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar on Tuesday said the anti-encroachment operation at Empress Market Saddar and its adjoining areas would continue by the end of Holy Ramazan. The anti-encroachment drive initiated by the civic agency along with the city police on May 20 is aimed at removing thousands of illegal makeshift stalls, push-carts and concrete encroachments around the busy Saddar neighbourhood of the metropolis, the Mayor said.
In order to prevent the vendors from reoccupation, eight surveillance camps have been setup where police and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) officials would stay 24/7. Waseem told reporters during his visit to Saddar where he reviewed the ongoing anti-encroachment drive. He said 129-year old Empress Market is the heart of Karachi and its beauty would be revived after the successful action against encroachment.
Municipal Commissioner Dr Syed Saifur Rehman, Senior Director Anti-Encroachment Bashir Siddiqui and other officials of KMC, police and cantonment board were also present. Karachi Mayor underscored the need of tree plantation, construction of lush green gardens, open places and support grounds to ensure healthy and recreational activities to citizens besides minimizing the hazards of the growing air pollution in the metropolitan city. Earlier, the Mayor said ongoing development work on N-5 project from Airport to Quaidabad would be completed by the end of June.