KARACHI: President Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) Junaid Esmail Makda, while referring to the ongoing massive anti-encroachment drive in the city, strongly slammed political parties and bureaucrats, who remained in Sindh government from time to time during the past 25 to 30 years and also all the relevant departments as they are also equally responsible for the encroachment issue.
“Concerned departments of the government are responsible for the encroachments in Karachi and now they want to wipe out all of them so that they could save themselves and hide their wrongdoings”, he added.
In a statement issued, President KCCI categorically stated that Karachi Chamber was not against the anti-encroachment drive but this campaign was totally one-sided in which all the rubble was being passed on to the public, shopkeepers and the business community whereas those elements, who actually paved way for such illegal activities under their nose, were not being taken to task.
“These elements are taking advantage of the current situation by deliberately misinterpreting the Honorable Supreme Court’s Order to hide behind the curtain as they fear that if the situation continues to move on like this, the day will not be far when it will be their turn as well and they will also be held accountable for all their wrongdoings”, he added.
Junaid Makda said that all the major departments including SBCA, Site Limited, KMC, Karachi Water & Sewerage Board (KWSB), Board of Revenue have probably made this plan in connivance with each other to carry out the massive destruction campaign all over the city regardless of considering whether these activities being carried out under the anti-encroachment drive actually fall under the ambit of Supreme Court’s order or not. “The only intention is to save their own neck and come out of it with a clean chit”, he added.
President KCCI pointed out that illegal constructions of factories over a nullah in Site area, construction of additional illegal floors in various buildings and the difference in the actual covered area against the approved plan were not carried out single-handedly by the public but it was done in connivance with various departments including Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) who must also be punished.
He was of the view that the city was undoubtedly facing serious encroachment issue that simply cannot be denied and there are a lot of illegalities as well therefore, KCCI strongly believes that the encroachment drive must go on which is in the larger interest of the city but the citizens and members of business and industrial community cannot be solely blamed as the elements within the government also played an equal role in creating the disastrous situation.
President KCCI said, “As it has always been KCCI’s approach to take the bull by the horns, we will follow the same approach in this particular issue as well because everyone is eyeing at the Chamber therefore, we have decided to fight but KCCI would never support any lawbreaker and simply cannot ask the government to ignore them as there are a lot of illegalities in this particular issue.”
