Sir: There are many public beaches along the coastal belts of Karachi, which start from Sunehra beach to Seaview. These beaches provide low-income beachgoers and picnickers a platform to celebrate their weekends. Unfortunately, land mafias have been active in the coastal belts of Karachi, and they are busy grabbing these public beaches. Several beaches have been encroached. For example the Sunehra beach, which is a century old beach located near Mubarak Village, has also become a target of land grabbers. It is not only a beach but also a harbour for fishermen of the Mubarak Village, Manjar Goth, Deh Mann and Deh Allah Bano. The land mafia has grabbed a vast area where they have illegally erected gates and constructed sheds and huts. Fishermen are not allowed to anchor their fishing boats for loading and unloading. Picnickers from Karachi city have to pay ‘bhatta’ (extortion money) to private security guards, which have been stationed along the Sunehra beach. According to revenue laws, the beach is a public place, which cannot be allotted to any person for personal use or commercial purpose. We request the government to take action against the land mafia and remove all illegal encroachments along the shore of the Sunehra beach. SARFRAZ HAROON Karachi