No commercial activities in parks, on drains as per SC orders, says mayor.

KARACHI -- City Mayor Wasim Akhtar said on Friday that no commercial activities were allowed in parks and on drains and footpaths as the Supreme Court of Pakistan had cancelled all permissions, leases and rent agreements made by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) or any other government organisation for the purpose.

He said that no commercial activities could be carried out in parks or on drains and pavements in the light of the apex court's orders in this regard.

The mayor made it clear that the ongoing anti-encroachment campaign in the city was not initiated by the KMC only, but the provincial government, cantonment boards and other civic and government functionaries were also part of it as the apex court made all of them bound to complete this work in 15 days. 'Only the court orders are being implemented; we don't want to leave anyone jobless,' he added.

Mr Akhtar expressed these views at his office on Friday while talking to a delegation of representatives from different market associations led by All Karachi Tajir Ittehad (AKTI) chairman Ateeq Mir while Mohammad Asad led the delegation of the Tariq Road Traders Association.

Traders assured the mayor of full cooperation in the ongoing anti-encroachment drive in parts of the city. They, however, requested for alternative place to do business so they could be saved from financial problems.

The AKTI chairman said the trader community knew that the operation was not motivated by political or linguistic concerns, but it was being conducted on purely administrative grounds and the mayor was...