Peshawar gets facelift as illegal billboards removed

Fresh phase of anti-encroachment drive launched in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: Several parts of the provincial metropolis are giving a better look after the district administration recently removed 229 illegal billboards as part of the fresh phase of the drive against encroachments.

The district administration launched the much-awaited drive as the advertising hoardings were erected illegally at public places such as footpaths and roads and also outside educational institutions. The structures hampered the traffic flow on the one hand and created problems for the pedestrians, especially women and students, on the other hand.

A final decision to embark on the anti-encroachment drive was taken at a special meeting arranged on Monday. DC Peshawar Saqib Raza Aslam chaired the meeting that was attended by the relevant officials. It was decided to launch the operation from Tuesday.

Five teams were constituted for the purpose. Additional Deputy Commissioner Fayyaz Sherpao was named head of the anti-encroachment operation.

Additional Assistant Commissioner Sohail Aziz was asked to carry out the operation in the limits of the Town-I along with Tehsil Municipal Officer Riaz Awan. Town-II was assigned to Additional AC Bashir Ahmad, Additional Assistant Commissioners Abdul Nabi and Syed Shah Zeb were deputed to take action in Town-III.

Additional AC Javed Anwar Kamal was assigned the Town-IV for removing the illegal billboards. Additional AC Imran Khan was asked to take the action along with the Peshawar Development Authority.

On the first day of the drive, 229 illegal billboards were removed. The district and town administration joined hands with the Peshawar Development Authority to pull down the illegal hoardings. Heavy machinery was used for the purpose.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Fayyaz Sherpao supervised the drive carried out in various parts of the provincial metropolis. The action was taken in Hashtnagri, Faqirabad, Bacha Khan Chowk, Yakatoot, Kohati Gate, Sarki and Ramdas and a total of 106 illegal signboards were removed in the limits of Town-I.

The other team conducted the action on the Charsadda Road and Budhni Bridge up to Naguman Chowk. Up to 55 billboards were removed.

Additional AC Imran Khan led another team that dismantled 52 illegal billboards on the Ring Road and Grand Trunk Road in Chamkani village.

Ten signboards on the Warsak Road and University Road were removed and six billboards from the Phandu Road.

Deputy Commissioner Saqib Raza Aslam told the media that the billboards had been installed illegally at public places in bazaars, schools and colleges.

He argued that the structures posed threat to the lives of the people as these could fall down during storms and earthquakes. The official advised the owners of the plazas who had installed billboards on the rooftops of properties to voluntarily remove these hoardings or get ready to face strict action.

It may be mentioned here that the mushrooming of the illegal billboards had marred the beauty of Peshawar, besides creating problems for the inhabitants. The worst part of illegal practice started when the structures were fixed in the middle of the footpaths. Even hospitals and educational institutions were not spared. The illegal practice was creating problems for pedestrians and affecting the traffic flow.