KARACHI: It will be a Herculean task for Sindh government to remove more than 1,350 illegal shops, hundreds of makeshift businesses and roadside wanders from around and inside Empress Market to turn the area into Food Street and traffic free zone, a survey reveals. Following completion of survey of the area conducted by Empress Market and Jahangir Park Project Directorate, Sindh, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) will be tasked to with other local bodies to remove encroachment from the targeted area. On the other hand, demolishing of nearly 146 shops on both sides of Jahangir Park is another task for Sindh administration in this respect. Estate Department KMC has already marked encroachments but has reluctant to take action due to fear of law and order disturbance from some political forces that are involved in encroachment, Qayyum Khan, Director Estate KMC said. Nazeer Lakhani, senior Director Enforcement KMC viewed lack of coordination among 18 government departments as the major hurdle in the way of removing encroachments. “We have already written letters to Sindh government and Commissioner Karachi to declare the area ‘Free Zone’ and impose section 144 in order to maintain law and order during anti- encroachment process”, he added. “A strong backup of law enforcement agencies is needed in this connection and we are waiting for the reply in this regard”, he informed. On the orders of Supreme Court of Pakistan illegal shops and occupation by different quarters inside Jahangir Park have already been removed. The project with two components including renovation of Empress Market and in second component of project, old buildings of British era on both sides on main road leading to Pakistan Chowk had to be refurbished. As part of the plan, buildings situated at Preedy Street, Daudpota Raod, Raja Ghazanfar Ali Khan Road, Mir Karam Ali Talpur Road, Sarwar Shaheed Road, Lucky Star and Zaib-un-Nisa Street will be renovated and encroachments on the footpaths will be removed.