Karachi: In an effort to alleviate traffic congestion and improve pedestrian access, Karachi’s civic authorities are initiating a comprehensive anti-encroachment operation today, targeting 30 major roads across the city. This operation aims to address encroachments and unregulated parking that have significantly disrupted traffic flow and reduced public space availability.

According to Zameen.Com, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and Town Municipal Corporations (TMCs) have identified areas, particularly within the South Business District, where illegal structures and unapproved uses of public spaces, such as private parking lots on sidewalks, force pedestrians onto roads, exacerbating traffic jams and creating safety hazards. The operation will also involve the cancellation of permissions previously granted for such uses, aiming to restore these areas for public use.

Sindh Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani, who recently chaired a meeting with KMC and town municipal commissioners, highlighted the rescinding of all No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) that had been issued for the placement of generators and storage of construction materials on public thoroughfares. He affirmed that the initial phase of this crackdown would concentrate on the identified 30 roads.

The meeting also covered various urban management challenges, such as waste management and the damage to infrastructure caused by drug abuse and anti-social behaviors in public spaces. Detailed reports from town municipal commissioners outline the specific roads where the anti-encroachment actions will begin.

This initiative is part of a larger strategy by the Chief Minister to tackle pervasive encroachment and illegal parking issues that have long plagued Karachi. A dedicated task force has been established to ensure the effective implementation of these anti-encroachment measures. These efforts follow previous directives issued on July 12, requiring local authorities to clear encroachments from critical public spaces like footpaths and green belts.

Moreover, Minister Ghani has requested town administrations to submit within 24 hours detailed reports on the revenues derived from road-cutting permissions, temporary NOCs, and paid parking zones, to aid in future urban planning and infrastructure improvements.