The roadside encroachments called patharas have returned back to Saddar, especially at the junction of New Preedy Street and CDGK car parking plaza, Due to poor follow up of civic agencies and are creating nuisance for the citizens.
In recent past, Rangers had successfully removed all encroachments from Saddar area, but the corrupt officials in civic agencies have managed allowing them to occupy New Preedy Street from Saddar up to CDGK car parking plaza up to afternoon and whole Saddar area from afternoon to evening when office hours are over.
A couple of vehicles of civic agencies are seen parked in front of the Empress Market for removing patharas but they purposefully ignore hundreds of patharas at New Preedy Street and surrounding areas. Moreover, the flags of the main ruling party of Sindh have again returned in Saddar area, presumably to disdain officials from taking action against Pathara holders who punctually pay Bhatta.
Hamid Mehmood, president of All Pakistan Association of Small Traders, and Cottage Industries Karachi chapter Hamid Mehmood, said in the bhatta cultural of Karachi hoisting of political flags in markets and residential areas means that party would handle all such affairs in the locality. He said different outfits had domino of bhatta collection in different areas and no other outfit interferes in these areas till ‘conquering’ them.
He said illegal encroachments from Karachi including Saddar area could not be removed permanently, because patharas were important component of bhatta collection industry. He said till FIRs were lodged against encroachers and they were arrested and presented before courts, this cat and mouse play of encroachment removal would continue.
He said the cleanliness condition of market areas was very pathetic. In many localities including Teen Hatti, Jamshed Road and Nagan Chworangi gutters overflow were causing immense problems for pedestrians. He said even the chocked gutter line of Preedy Street in front of CDGK car parking plaza could not be opened even after passage of two years, which showed that the so-called cleanliness drive was no more than a hollow slogan.
Nasir Mansoor, Deputy General Secretary of National Trade Union Federation (NTUF), said it was the responsibility of the government to keep roads and streets free from encroachments. He said special open markets like Jumma Bazaars could be established so that small vendors could earn their livelihood. However, illegal encroachments of roads and streets should not be tolerated. He also demanded to improve public transport system of Karachi to cope with road congestion and traffic jams.
Ahsan Bari Advocate, President of Voice Against Corruption, said it a was sad fact that corruption was deep-rooted in government departments including KMC and KWSB. “This is why the government officials are not serious to solve the civic issues.”
