Despite repeated orders issued by the city administration to remove large-sized billboards on city’s major arteries, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) is yet to comply with the directives; placing millions of lives at risk as the monsoon season draws near and heavy cyclones become a frequent occurrence.
These billboards and signposts have been installed on roads and rooftops of various buildings. In 2007, at least 44 people lost their lives and over 200 others were injured in rains when many large-sized billboards fell on people. In 2008, around 30 people died and in 2009, 61 people fell prey to unstable large billboards.
Despite the colossal loss of lives these orders fell on the deaf ears of the ‘Sheikh brothers’- District Commissioner Officer Roshan Ali Sheikh and his younger brother Director Advertisement and Local Taxes Akhtar Ali Sheikh (KMC), who do not seem very bothered to guarantee the safety of citizens. More than 300 men work in the departments concerned at KMC and yet it operates as a one-man show, with Akhtar Sheikh in charge, from issuing licenses to installation and surveys.
Orders for removal of these ‘killer’ billboards have been brushed aside as LT KMC has instead directed all stakeholders to drill holes in the billboards and signboard panels to allow gusty winds to pass through them preventing high-rise heavy billboards and hoardings from getting knocked down.
Sources in KMC told Pakistan Today that drilling holes in the front iron sheets was not a reliable solution as they don’t anticipate the intensity of cyclones and winds. Technical experts told Pakistan Today that KMC engineers are experimenting with an erroneous policy at a crucial time. Not only are gusty winds expected during monsoon season, but global warming in the sub-continent could provoke sea or wind storms at any time. Thermopile covering the billboards would not be strong enough to survive the wind pressure, causing iron sheets to lose welded joints from the main panel and causing more damage if dropped.
But nobody’s listening…
