Sindh Chief Secretary Major (r) Azam Suleman Khan, on Wednesday, presided over a meeting regarding the removal of encroachments from the metropolis under instructions from the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) The meeting resolved to remove encroachments from all parks, marketing centers and roads of the megapolis. The meeting was also briefed about the implementation status of the Supreme Court’s orders regarding the removal of encroachments from the city. During the meeting, the Chief Secretary directed the relevant authorities to ensure that government offices and political party offices constructed in public parks were removed. The relevant officials were asked to submit a report regarding their progress within two days. Chief Secretary ordered that illegal bill boards, marriage halls and encroachments from the roads and footpaths of the commercial areas and markets should also be removed without further delay. He said that the Empress Market, Taj Medical Centre, Auto Market on M.A. Jinnah Road (Bander Road) should also be cleared from encroachments. The Chief Secretary stressed the need to remove the encroachments in accordance with the rules and regulations. He said that all institutions including Karachi Municipal Corporation, District Municipal Corporations (DMCs), the Cantonment Board, Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and Anti-Encroachment Forces must play their vital role to eradicate encroachments. Azam Khan said that the Karachi Commissioner will perform his role as the focal Person in this regard. He also directed Board of Revenue (BOR), KMC, Cantonment Boards and SBCA to re-examine the leases allowed by them and check if that the land was being used for the actual purpose stated in the lease documents. He directed the relevant authorities to submit a report to this effect. “Encroachments from Parks and Garden including the Burns Garden, Jahangir Park, Aram Bagh, Baloch Park and Khori Garden, should also be removed immediately,” the Chief Secretary directed. The meeting was attended by the SMBR, Secretary Local Government, Commissioner Karachi, Additional IGP Karachi, Deputy Commissioners, DIGs and other senior officers. Published in Daily Times, August 16th 2018.