Daily Times

KARACHI: The economic activities of around 300 registered, unregistered medium and small enterprises of outdoor billboard advertising industry of Karachi and contributor of around Rs 12 billion annually in exchequer has completely been shut down.

Following Suo motu action by Supreme Court of Pakistan Karachi Registry, Court had ordered on March 2016 for closure of business on the grounds that awfully mushroom growth of billboards in city without any uniform laws and uniformity in sizes of boards, besides, island erection of billboards that had been hindering two-way flow of vehicular traffic due to blocking sight of motorists had been remained a life threat.

Besides height of billboards on high rise building was also life-threat to commuters and passer-bys in case of accidental falling of such billboards.

During April 2017 hearing on the issue, SCP had directed the parties to chalk out uniform by-laws and procedures for industry and submit the same in the Court.

The industry people of Sindh Outdoor Advertising Association have alleged Sindh government and Cantonment Boards having failed under the directives of SCP for chalking out a proper plan and uniform by-laws for industry.

“We have prayed SCP to grant us permission for intervention in the case so that we could be able to highlight our stand and problems on the matter”, said an advertiser adding that around 100,000 people, direct and indirect, involved in the business have lost their livelihood.

Rahat M Ali, President and Fareed Ahmed, Secretary of Association Sindh were of the view that this mode of advertising has been done within the legal frame of work.

According to them, outdoor advertisers have been running this business under Cantonment Board Act 1924 and City Act 1933 till Sindh Local Government Act 2013.

They claimed a draft resolution for running business on this effect has already been approval by District Municipal Corporation (DMC) South. It was expected that same approved proposal would be submitted before LGD for final approval.

The outdoor advertisers have also submitted draft in question to DMC East, Central, Malir, Korangi and West.

The same draft has also been submitted to District Council Karachi for approval, Rahat maintained.

Cantonment Board Clifton and Karachi Cantonment Board have also been informed in this regard and requested to pray SCP to allow running this trade in a formal way.

Along with the proposed system of digital billboards, they said, a few spots in the city should be properly identified where the conventional billboards could also be installed without disturbing aesthetics and beauty of the city.

Rahat said under new system, provision for proper spacing and distance should also be given among the billboards.

According to Rahat, Sindh government’s legal team never fought the case properly, which is the reason for the ruling.

The former governor Dr Ishart-ul-Ibad had also directed Commissioner Karachi to adopt new by-laws for installation of advertising billboards in city, ensuring that those by-laws should be properly publicized among all the relevant quarters.

Meanwhile, district municipal corporations of central, east and south in defying of SCP orders have been patronizing parties for placing billboards and wall painting of consumers’ product in their respective limits, alleged members of Sindh Outdoor Advertising Association.

Published in Daily Times, September 21^st 2017.