The stakeholders of Super Highway (SH) on Saturday announced to block the SH from Sunday for an indefinite period against the evacuation notices issued by the National Highway Authority (NHA).
The villagers along the SH have been ordered by NHA to vacate their residential and commercial properties along both the sides of the highway in short period of time for construction of the M9 Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway Project.
They announced this while addressing a press conference at Karachi Press Club. All Pakistan CNG Association Sindh’s Chairman Shabbir Sulemanjee, Palari Community leader Faiz Mohammad Palari, and Shabbar Malik were also present.
Sulemanjee said construction of M-9 project will cause great problems to the traders, petrol pumps, CNG stations, hotels, and other facilities.
He highlighted that M-9 would not open Economic Corridors, rather would jeopardize the existing business operation on. It is non-practical because it will not only cause revenue loss but would reduce the employment due to the closure of their businesses because of fencing on both sides.
He said more than 120 petrol pumps and CNG stations, operating along main SH with an estimated total investment of more than Rs 12 billion, foreign & local investment would be affected.
He said that in the meeting on 26 August 2014, held by the Federal Minister Communications in Islamabad between the Ministry, NHA and the Highway Stakeholders, the Minister showed serious concerns over fencing and directed NHA to work out on shifting the existing Toll Plaza after Kathore as the first 50 KM from Sorab Goth is densely populated.
The stake holders appealed to the Government of Pakistan to convene a meeting with them to find a reasonable solution and safeguard the interest of the thousands of people associated directly or indirectly with SH.
