Sindh orders joint drive against encroachments on Karachi roads

The Sindh government has decided to clear encroachments from Karachi's main roads and the routes of the People's Bus Service in a joint operation by police, the city administration and the transport department, with University Road and several bus service routes chosen for the first phase.

Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon chaired the meeting. Express News, which also described him as the provincial minister for information, transport and mass transit, named the officials present: Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi, Transport Secretary Asad Zaman, Karachi police chief Azad Khan, DIG Traffic Pir Muhammad Shah and DIG East Farrukh Lanjar. Aaj News reported that the commissioner, the city police chief, the DIG Traffic, the DIG East and other officials attended, without giving their names.

The meeting ordered the departments to act at once against illegal occupation on the bus service routes and any encroachment obstructing the flow of traffic on the city's main arteries.

It also decided to move illegal bus terminals out of Karachi, naming Sohrab Goth among the areas where they stand. Officials discussed building modern bus terminals outside the city under public-private partnership and expanding the Karachi Bus Terminal.

According to Express News, Memon told the officials to speed up efforts to set up a logistics park and to have all departments work together to organise the transport system.

Memon said residents and passengers face serious difficulties because of encroachments on the main roads and the bus routes. Illegal occupation and obstructions affect traffic flow, raise fuel costs and hamper the movement of public transport, he said, according to both reports. Clearing the roads and the bus routes is necessary to give commuters better service, he added.

He directed the departments to act under a joint strategy and to move against illegal bus terminals so that traffic pressure on the roads eases.