CM orders razing building encroaching upon Sharea Faisal

Sindh caretaker chief minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar on Tuesday directed the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) to bulldoze an under-construction building situated opposite the Star Gate because its structure is encroaching upon the land till the main road.

The interim CM gave the order during a follow-up meeting he chaired to discuss the beautification of Sharea Faisal and the restoration of the Chawkandi graveyard.

Baqar pointed out that the building being constructed opposite the Star Gate is encroaching upon the land reserved for a service road. He directed SBCA chief Ishaq Khuhro to get the building bulldozed and take strict action against the officers of District East who approved the layout plan or deliberately ignored the illegal construction.

Karachi Commissioner Saleem Rajput told the meeting that a wall has been constructed in front of the Falaknaz Apartments, and that it would be beautified with stone carving and tiles showing the different cultural colours of the province.

A spot has been identified on the corner of the road leading to the Jinnah Terminal for which Baqar decided that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) would develop a park there. He also decided that the underpass at Drigh Road would be beautified with lights and tiles.

The two flyovers located on Sharea Faisal will also be beautified with tiles, paints and greenery, while sitting areas will be developed under the bridges. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab told the meeting that the green belt of Sharea Faisal is being beautified with trees and seasonal flowers, as well as grills to be installed there.

Baqar said he would visit Sharea Faisal to witness the progress of the beautification plan. He directed Khuhro to urgently contact the builder of the Falaknaz Apartments to repair and renovate his buildings, and take care of their seepage problem.

Chawkandi graveyard

Rajput, architects Ali Naqvi and Komal Pervez, Culture Secretary Khalid Chachar and Forest Secretary Najam Shah gave detailed presentations on the progress made in the restoration of the Chawkandi graveyard.

The commissioner said the trucks and containers parked along the access road have been removed, and the cleanliness of the graveyard and its surrounding areas is under way. Extensive cleanliness operations have been carried out in and around the graveyard, he added.

Shah said that the social forestry division has been tasked with conserving the graveyard. He said that 800 species of plants, shrubs and trees exist at the graveyard. They include tamarind, mango, olive, moringa, almond, fig and jujube, he added.

The meeting was told that the forest department would plant 50,000 trees at the graveyard. They include 5,000 Neem trees, 13,000 Gulmohar trees, 500 Peepal trees and 4,000 tamarind trees.

Baqar told the culture department to ensure the availability of water at the graveyard, saying that onward supply of water to plants should be the responsibility of the forest department. The culture department will also install a portable solar system from storage points, he added.

It was pointed out that planting trees is the best way to prevent the archaeological site from erosion and exposure to weather. On this Wahab said the KMC would develop a park at the Chawkandi graveyard so that visitors can have a proper sitting place.

The meeting was also attended by caretaker minister of sports and antiquities Dr Junaid Shah, Secretary to the CM Raheem Shaikh, consultant Dr Kaleem Lashari and others.