KARACHI: The Supreme Court on Friday was informed by the administration that Zulfikarabad oil tankers terminal has been inaugurated and it is functional now. The bench headed by Justice Mushir Alam and comprising Justice Maqbool Baqar and Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, was hearing a petition filed by Shugafta Bibi, a resident of Clifton Block-1, imploring the apex court to order the shifting of the ad-hoc oil tankers’ terminal established in Clifton. The woman had initially sent a letter to the chief justice of Pakistan who later converted it into a constitutional petition. In Friday’s hearing, the apex court was informed that Zulfikarabad Oil Terminal was inaugurated by Mayor Karachi on Thursday and it is functional. The report said that although, the oil terminal is 50 per cent completed but the tankers are being parked there. The court directed commissioner to inspect the terminal and submit report by August 3. The Zulfikarabad terminal spans over 200 acres and has a parking capacity of 3,200 oil tankers. It also has a service area of 30 acres which can cater to 10,000 people and all civic facilities including eateries, banks and mechanic shops have started functioning in the vicinity. Earlier on July 20, the apex court directed the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation to make the terminal operational by July 27. During the past three years, the apex court has time and again directed the authorities and the oil tanker owners and operators to remove their vehicles immediately from Shireen Jinnah Colony, a neighborhood in Clifton, but to no avail. The petitioner had complained that heavy oil tankers were parked on both sides of the main road in Clifton Block 1 and its surrounding area. Published in Daily Times, July 29th , 2017.