SOP issued for roadside tea shops

Upon instructions from the Sindh government, the commissioner of Karachi Division on Friday issued a standard operating procedure for roadside tea shops and hotels.

Moreover, after an agreement between the government and the hotels association, the hotel owners have submitted written assurances in the form of affidavits. A committee headed by Additional Commissioner Ghulam Mehdi Shah has approved the de-sealing of shops.

According to the SOP, the decision to determine the required location will be made with the confirmation of the authorized representative and traffic police and the recommendation of the town officer. The relevant DC’s NoC will be issued. The purpose of the SOP is to prevent any obstruction on footpaths and roads for pedestrians and traffic.

The officials added that the deputy commissioners have de-sealed roadside tea houses and hotels in the city after fulfilling the legal requirements. The city administration had started the process of sealing tea houses and hotels on October 27 by taking action against them, totalling 255.

A committee was formed under the leadership of Additional Commissioner Ghulam Mehdi Shah to prepare an SOP, which included the deputy commissioner of East and West districts and representatives of the hotels association.

The committee was directed to prepare an SOP and submit proposals to make it mandatory for hotels to be kept within their limits. It prepared the proposals after mutual consultation and obtained a written assurance from the hotels association for their implementation as well as an affidavit from the hotel owners for implementation.

According to the SOP, roads have been divided into three categories. There will be no encroachment on a road of one hundred or more feet. The SOP further reads that the NoC shall be suspended or cancelled if the district administration, traffic police or town administration receives any complaint and any complaint is submitted to the deputy commissioner regarding violations of limits or encroachments or violations of the SoP defined here. A seven-day notice will be issued before cancellation and repeated violations may lead to permanent blacklisting.

Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi has appreciated the efforts made to prevent encroachments. He has said the efforts of the administration against encroachments in the city will continue and the hotels that have been de-sealed will be monitored. Strict action will be taken against them again for violating the affidavit. According to the handout, the de-sealing process has been completed after fulfilling all legal requirements.