Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) carried out a massive anti-encroachment operation on Friday in three city districts under a directive issued by Administrator Laeeq Ahmed.

According to details shared by senior anti-encroachment director Bashir Siddiqui, the operations were carried out on major markets, highways and roads in the Central, East and South districts.

In the North Karachi area of ​​the Central District, from Power House Chowrangi to Nagan Chowrangi, all kinds of commercial encroachment have been eliminated. “Strollers, cabins, grills, chairs, tables and stalls on the road and sidewalk have been removed,” said Siddiqui, adding that sunshades protruding onto the road were also destroyed by KMC officers.

Gas cylinders and workshops whose accessories are on the road were all confiscated and moved to KMC workshops and warehouses. The central director of the anti-encroachment department, Kamran Alvi, and Deputy Director Younus Khan oversaw the operation with the help of law enforcement agencies.

Meanwhile, in Sector-I Karachi North Central District, near the Siddiq-e-Akbar Mosque and at the Motorcycle Market in UP Morr, another major operation was carried out in which gas cylinders, parked old cars were confiscated by the department.

During the operation, Siddiqui said a KMC city warden was injured when the blinds fell on him. “The warden was immediately transferred to the hospital,” he said. In the East District, anti-encroachment operations were carried out in the areas of Jalan Tariq, Jalan Jamshed, Guru Mandir and the Muslim Community of Sindhi. The heavy generators occupying space on the trail were all confiscated. The generators mostly belong to restaurants around the Sindhi Muslim Society roundabout. Deputy Director Ameen Lakhani oversaw the operation.

Around the Guru Mandir area, Siddiqui said, cabins, betel and paan stalls, as well as restaurant and teashop tables and chairs were all removed. Meanwhile, sun visors, iron grills, and ladders jutting out into the paths and walkways were all dismantled.

In the Southern District, operations were carried out at Kaghaz Bazaar and Plastic Market. Siddiqui described how the shop accessories that took up space on the streets and walkways in the two markets were confiscated, and some stoves, chairs and restaurant tables were also removed.