KARACHI: The anti-encroachment operation launched earlier this month in the provincial capital’s Empress Market area has been expanded to include Mohammad Ali Society, Tariq Road and Dhoraji.
On Thursday, encroachments and illegal constructions in Mohammad Ali Society and Dhoraji area were razed by the Anti-Encroachment cell of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC).
According to the KMC, sheds and pillars of a foreign restaurant chain were demolished during the operation as it had encroached on pavement in front of it.
Similarly, an illegally constructed wedding hall on Tariq Road was also demolished.
More than 1,000 shops and other illegal constructions were razed in Empress Market in the past week.
According to KMC Anti-Encroachment Senior Director Bashir Ahmed Siddiqui, 1,043 illegal shops were razed to the ground by Sunday, followed by a clean-up operation to clear more than 100,000 tonnes of rubble.
Directives for operation against encroachments were given by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
A number of shopkeepers have protested against the crackdown, saying they should be compensated and provided alternate land to establish their shops.