Child dies after roof of shop razed in Karachi anti-encroachment drive collapses

KARACHI: A young boy was killed after the roof of a shop razed in the ongoing picking anti-encroachment drive collapsed in Karachi’s Korangi No 6 area on Thursday.

According to police, the boy who has been identified as Osama was picking iron from the rubble of razed shops when the roof collapsed, killing him. Authorities added, that an operation had taken place in the area a few days earlier.

Area residents said that children have been coming to the area since the operation and collecting iron from the rubble of the demolished shops.

The Supreme Court last year had ordered city-wide anti-encroachment drive starting from Empress Market in the city’s Saddar area. The KDA, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and other civic bodies, backed by law enforcers, are currently carrying out anti-encroachment operations throughout the metropolis on the orders of the SC.
Area residents say children have been coming to the area since the operation and collecting iron from the rubble of the demolished shops. Photo: Geo News

In a report submitted in the SC’s Karachi registry, a total of 2,233 shops have been demolished so far in the anti-encroachment drive. 744 shops were razed in Empress Market, 603 shops in Umar Farooqui Market, 176 in Mairaj Market, and 151 around Jahangir Park, the report stated.

297 shops were demolished at Ali Dina Road, 100 at Jinnah Road, three at Regal Chowk, and two at Akbar Road. 138 rented shops were razed at Khoury Garden, the report added.