Karachi: Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, has issued a directive to all relevant authorities, including administrative bodies, local governments, development authorities, and police, to intensify efforts to remove encroachments from public spaces throughout Karachi. The directive was issued during a meeting held at the Chief Minister’s House, aimed at addressing the pervasive issue of encroachments and enhancing the city’s aesthetics and functionality.
According to Sindh Governor House, the meeting convened by Chief Minister Shah brought together key officials such as Provincial Ministers Nasir Shah and Saeed Ghani, Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab, and other senior officials to strategize on removing illegal structures from footpaths, green belts, and service roads, which have significantly hindered pedestrian movement and marred the city’s landscape. The Chief Minister stressed that no authority has the legal right to permit encroachments on public walkways and green belts, highlighting instances where private offices have encroached upon public paths.
The Chief Minister has mandated the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), Town Municipal Corporations (TMCs), and other local bodies to take proactive measures to reclaim public spaces, advising them to first issue warnings followed by a robust operation to clear encroachments. He also directed the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) to enforce regulations preventing builders from using public areas to store construction materials and debris, which often spill over onto main roads, further disrupting traffic flow.
Additionally, the meeting addressed issues such as illegal road digging by utilities and the misuse of road space for illegal charged parking, which has exacerbated traffic congestion in the city. The Chief Minister ordered the Chief Secretary to revise the charges and procedures related to road cutting and ensure that roads are restored within three months of excavation.
The rampant problem of illegal parking, particularly around shopping plazas whose parking lots have been converted into commercial spaces, was also tackled. The Chief Minister instructed the Commissioner of Karachi to coordinate with local police and start operations to restore these parking spaces to their intended use.
The Chief Minister’s directives extended to improving municipal services like the issuance of official certificates and managing the city’s severe water shortage by enhancing the water distribution system. He emphasized the importance of strategic billboard placement and the removal of hazardous overhead cables to ensure public safety and urban aesthetics.
These sweeping measures, as outlined by Chief Minister Shah, aim to address not only the physical obstructions in Karachi but also the bureaucratic and regulatory challenges that have allowed such issues to persist, signaling a significant push towards urban management and governance reform in the city.