CM Sindh’s plan for Karachi’s Empress Market

KARACHI: Chief Minister Sindh Mrad Ali Shah has outlined plans for return Empress Market to its past glory. The market located in the Saddar area of the city was at the centre of the anti-encroachment drive.

During a meeting to review progress of megaproject schemes in the city, Chief Minister Shah issued directives for construction of roads and beautification of the areas cleared from encroachment around Empress Market and Karachi Zoo.

The chief minister also directed Sindh Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani to prepare a plan for rehabilitation of affected shopkeepers and traders.

The meeting was attended by Minister Local Government Saeed Ghani, Chairman P&D Mohammad Waseem, Principal Secretary to CM Sajidjamal Abro, Secretary Finance Najam Shah, Commissioner KarachiIftikhar Shahalwani, Special Secretary Local Government Niaz Soomro, PD Karachi Package Khalid Mansoor and other concerned officers.

The chief minister discussed the rehabilitation of the shopkeepers and small traders affected with the removal of the encroachment from Saddar and Karachi Zoo.

"I want to rehabilitate the affected shopkeepers immediately by giving them stalls on a temporary basis under a short term arrangement and in the long term land would be identified for establishment of a market to accommodate them," he said and issued directive for preparation of short term and long terms plans.

The chief minister also proposed that night markets were fashioned all over the world and such markets could be started.

The patharawala/vendors can be adjusted in the night market to starting from 10pm to 3am in Saddar, the commissioner said.

Murad Ali Shah directed Local Government Minister to make necessary arrangement for the lifting of the debris of the shops/structures bulldozed at Empress Market and Karachi Zoo.

"I have visited Empress Market and noticed that debris was still lying there which must be lifted."

The British era market would be restored in its original shape by constructing a road around it, a small park, a sitting place and such other things could be developed there, he said.