KARACHI: The Karachi city commissioner announced a strict ‘zero tolerance’ policy on Friday against the placement of chairs, tables, and other obstructions by roadside eateries on major roads, particularly those 100 feet wide or more. Under the new standard operating procedures (SOP), restaurants and tea shops are prohibited from occupying footpaths, service lanes, or road shoulders along these major arteries.
For commercial roads between 60 and 100 feet and neighborhood streets below 60 feet, eateries may use the space only after obtaining a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the town office and deputy commissioner, ensuring that pedestrian and vehicular movement remains unhindered. Applications for the NOC require a trade licence, rental agreement, and an undertaking, with joint verification by municipal officers, traffic police, and mukhtiarkar before conditional approval is granted for one year.
Following the announcement, 255 roadside eateries previously sealed for encroachment have been allowed to reopen after providing written assurance of compliance with the new SOP. The reopening comes after coordination between the restaurants’ association and the city administration, with Additional Commissioner Ghulam Mehdi Shah heading the committee that framed the guidelines.
The SOP divides roads into three categories: zero tolerance roads (100 feet or more), commercial/secondary roads (60–100 feet), and neighborhood streets (below 60 feet). The commissioner emphasized that enforcement will continue, and the reopened eateries will be closely monitored to ensure adherence to regulations.