Commissioner reviews KCR revival

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The progress of encroachments removal from tracks of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR), being carried out on the orders of Supreme Court for revival of KCR, was reviewed at a meeting chaired by the Commissioner Karachi, Iftikhar Shalwani.

It was decided to continue the on-going operation against illegal encroachments on the KCR within 50/50 feet of both Right of Ways (ROWs) as per joint and collective plan chalked out on May 14 by the Pakistan Railways, Anti-Encroachment cell, local police and district administration. 

The Commissioner advised the Railways authorities to cancel leases of all their commercial entities within 50 feet ROW and remove them immediately without any further notice delay with the help of police and district administration.  

The respective Deputy Commissioners also briefed about progress of ongoing operation. They informed that operation within limits of their respective districts will be started as per plan to engage the people of the area to remove their illegal settlements and shift to safer places.

Commissioner Iftikhan Shalwani directed all DCs to carry out regular patrolling in their respective jurisdictions to ensure that the operation goes on in full swing and take steps to remove or demolish all commercial structures immediately. 

He said as per the SC direction no leniency will be shown to anyone in this regard and it would be implemented in letter and spirit. 

He sympathized with the affectees but said that they would be compensated or resettled with a proper rehabilitation plan to be submitted by the Pakistan Railways during the next week to Sindh government for implementation as per policy and commitment. 

Earlier the members of civil society and affectees of KCR led by Karamat Ali, Jibran Nasir, Faisal Edhi and others shared their views with the Commissioner before the review meeting on KCR. 

They apprised the Commissioner about their grievances and issues of affectees and asserted that it is the state responsibility to provide shelter to displaced people 

They dispelled the impression of being opposed to the KCR revival but they desired the plan to be implemented judiciously and not at the cost of people. 

The Commissioner assured them that their issues will be resolved as per the SC directions but also made clear that they have to comply with the SC directions in letter and spirit.