DCs told to act swiftly to get unsafe billboards removed

Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi has issued directives for taking action for the immediate removal of unsafe billboards and hoardings across the city.

According to a notification issued on Thursday, he instructed all deputy commissioners and relevant municipal and development agencies to start the removal process promptly. The commissioner emphasized the urgency of these actions in light of the upcoming monsoon rains, highlighting the need for priority and swift measures to remove these structures.

He has formally instructed all the deputy commissioners of the city in writing to undertake effective actions. He mentioned that the Sindh government had also directed the relevant agencies to proceed with these measures. The deputy commissioners have been urged to liaise with all related municipal and development agencies to ensure the implementation of government orders.

Given the forecast of rains by the Meteorological Department, it is crucial to ensure that all necessary preparations are in place to deal with the weather conditions.

The commissioner stressed that any unsafe billboards or hoardings, whether on government or private land, should be removed as a matter of priority and urgency. He also instructed the deputy commissioners to keep him informed about the details of their actions and to submit a report on the progress of the removal operations.

On Wednesday, the Sindh Services, General Administration & Coordination Department had ordered the local government and housing & town planning additional chief secretary (ACS), and all the divisional commissioners in the province to urgently remove all hoardings that pose a danger to public safety.

The letter moved to the ACS and others reads that the Met Office has forecast heavy rains in the province, and that given the devastation caused by torrential rains in recent years, it is imperative to implement safety measures to protect lives and properties.

It said the presence of large hoardings on buildings and other structures poses a risk, particularly during thunderstorms and heavy rains, and that the Supreme Court has also mandated the removal of such installations.