Mayor orders crackdown on wall-chalking, illegal food distribution points

Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab has directed the immediate removal of all wall-chalking from city roads and called for the arrest of those responsible, stating that such acts make the city appear unsightly.

He has also instructed that food distribution points established by charitable organisations under bridges and flyovers be shut down. Chairing a high-level meeting of the Karachi Beautification Task Force at the head office of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) on Friday, Wahab emphasised the preservation of historical buildings along major roads. He noted that 16 heritage structures exist on Abdullah Haroon Road alone and announced that uniformly designed street lights would be installed in these areas.

A proposal was also presented to digitise the signage of various institutions on II Chundrigar Road to enhance visual harmony. He announced the removal of Conocarpus trees along these roads, to be replaced with traditional species native to Karachi, in line with environmental considerations.

The meeting was attended by Commissioner Hassan Naqvi, DIG Traffic Peer Muhammad Shah, the managing director of the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board, deputy commissioners from various districts, and heads of municipal organisations. Briefings were given on beautification plans for II Chundrigar Road, Abdullah Haroon Road, Sharae Faisal, Shahrah-e-Pakistan, and Karsaz Road.

Mayor Wahab also directed the aesthetic reconstruction of the outer wall of the Society Graveyard to enhance the visual appeal of the surrounding road. He ordered immediate commencement of road patchwork where required and stated that parking under flyovers, including on Shaheed-e-Millat Road, would no longer be permitted.

He called for improvements in parking arrangements for wedding halls on Sharae Faisal and upgrades to service roads on both sides. Beautification efforts, he said, should extend from Natha Khan Bridge to the airport.

A proposal to develop a dedicated parking area on the railway ground along II Chundrigar Road was also discussed, with plans to coordinate with railway authorities. Additionally, he directed the removal of hanging cables from II Chundrigar Road, Sharae Faisal, Shahrah-e-Quaideen, and Abdullah Haroon Road. He said that all members of the Beautification Task Force, in collaboration with municipal bodies, will oversee citywide projects focused on cleanliness and beautification.