The 'clean-up' of Empress Market doesn't have to be this way

[SabzShaheen]

When I visit Pakistan one of the most visual display that I have arrived in a third world country is the fact that all roads are literally almost blocked by the spill of vendors or establishments on to the road. Pavements are practically non existent, if they existed they have long been occupied by vendors or the adjoining shops have just seized them and now are inching on to the road. This presents a scence of choas, overcrowded madness with extreme effects on a polluted environment.

It's what the bloody Bangladeshis are doing with parts of East London (no offence to Bangladeshis on here)

You dont need to see that in 3rd world country...I have seen that in East London

hahahah exactly!!

 

[doorstar]

Keep acting like an ostrich. Meanwhile a mass of poor, downtrodden people is accumulating who can see the city being beautified at the cost of their livelihood

There comes a time when pride causes a man to become his own worst enemy. This is the case for the pseudo-elites who think the world is their playground. Blinded by position and drunk on power.

so you would rather prefer disease spreading filthy people selling food stuffs from dangerous structures as well selling foods right from the floor of the pavement and road

No normal person in their right mind will buy anything from these people sat squatting in all that trash

 

[Yankee-stani]

When I visit Pakistan one of the most visual display that I have arrived in a third world country is the fact that all roads are literally almost blocked by the spill of vendors or establishments on to the road. Pavements are practically non existent, if they existed they have long been occupied by vendors or the adjoining shops have just seized them and now are inching on to the road. This presents a scence of choas, overcrowded madness with extreme effects on a polluted environment. There are countries with far higher density and populations like Belguim or China but they don't suffer from this problem. The reason of course for this is the encroachment. It needs a stern action and even stronger enforcement.

When was the last time you visited Pakistan

 

[Indus Pakistan]

When was the last time you visited Pakistan

Just slightly over 2 years ago ...

 

[313ghazi]

I meant in the sense of versions. As you know there are many, many madhhabs even amongst the Sunni leave alone the Shia. So I was just wondering which one would you enforce. And exactly how would you enforce one madhhab on a conflicted population of Pakistan. For instance what would you do with the 10% of the population that is Shia in Pakistan. Call Saudia/USA and do a Houthi v.02 on them and turn Pakistan into another Yemen?

Just to address this off topic bit. Any implementation of shariah takes into account the madhab of the parties in an argument. Your actions are judged according to the madhab you ascribe to. I am not an expert but I doubt there are many legal matters that differ wildly due to madhab. After all under shariah non Muslims can be judged by thier laws, so this shouldn't be difficult.

======

I agree about the encroachment though. Its absolutely needed, even if there is a bit of a "baby/bathwater" feel to it.

Unfortunately this is slowly becoming a trend under PTI.

Surely it would make sense to setup up other state owned and regulated market stalls before knocking these down. As wrong as they are, it's not like they can go on down to the dole office.

 

[WebMaster]

I believe Imran Khan has lost moral legitimacy for the encroachment campaign when irregularities are found in his own home. The hypocrisy of taking away livelihood from the poor while regularizing his own residence by payment of a fee is stark. As Mr. Aasim says, encroach if rich. At the very least, these poor people should also be given the option of regularizing their businesses, or alternates must be provided.

Sindh government should provide alternatives.

 

[valkyr_96]

so you would rather prefer disease spreading filthy people selling food stuffs from dangerous structures as well selling foods right from the floor of the pavement and road

No normal person in their right mind will buy anything from these people sat squatting in all that trash

are you sure? haven't you heard " jitna galeez witna lazeez"

 

[Indus Pakistan]

so you would rather prefer disease spreading filthy people selling food stuffs from dangerous structures as well selling foods right from the floor of the pavement and road

No normal person in their right mind will buy anything from these people sat squatting in all that trash

This could easily be India.

 

[valkyr_96]

I believe that this idiom applies to "forbidden fruit" (that you enjoy the thrill from indulging in what is prohibited). This filth in the market is different kind of (actual as opposed to metaphorical) ghlazat

no it refers to nihari ka ghost jo burns road mein hotel kay bathroom mein raha jata aur loog shauk se khatay hain. Hygiene standard are really low.

 

[doorstar]

This could easily be India.

but it is not

how it used to be:

what it turned into:

 

[Indus Pakistan]

but it is not

how it used to be:

what it turned into:

Disgusting. To see it before to what it is now. What the hell? This reminds me of the worse horrors that I provoke the Indians over in Mumbai, Patna, Kolkata etc. Ffs ....

 

[Nefarious]

Good. Lot of bad habits need to be broken.

Should be done allover Pakistan...is it?

 

[CriticalThought]

Unless you recieved the revelation, you do not in utter certainty represent the Truth nor can speak for anyone except for yourself or those who claim to follow you word for word.

The only truth was revealed 1400 years ago through one man who also passed away in the same timeframe. Everyone after that can only interpret that truth but can never claim to be getting that truth.. otherwise its the same territory as Muslaimah Kazzab.

The Truth and its interpretations are fixed otherwise you negate the verses of Quran where Allah the Almighty takes responsibility for collection, recitation, and dissemination.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Suprised how a legitimate Building was surrounded by crappy illegal buildings

 

[Thorough Pro]

This exact attitude is the reason we are where we are will always remain there.
Illegal activity is illegal activity, it does not become legal if poor people do it.
Why should government provide alternate place? why should it not charge the rent + interest + fine for the decades of illegal occupation?

Why is the city management, head of KMC, KDA are not penalized for allowing this illegal occupation to happen and then letting it go for decades without any action?

The PTI government needs to take concerns in this article seriously. This mismanagement casts a bad light on them and calls to question their claims of service to poor people.



Noman AhmedUpdated November 16, 2018

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Neither compensation nor any alternative location has been offered by the authorities so far.—Urban Resource Center

Removal of illegal construction has been ongoing in Karachisince the past few weeks under the directives of the Supreme Court.

The most prominent and visible exercise in this respect was carried out in Saddar. Shops, hawker stalls, extensions of commercial spaces, semi-mobile enactments along the roads and footpaths were demolished.

According to municipal officers, information related to the demolitions was extended in advance to all the prospective affectees in a bid to minimise losses.

Related: Encroach if rich

Evicted hawkers at Empress Market.—Urban Resource Center


'Economic genocide'
Amjad (all names have been changed) had a kite and accessories shop along the backyard of the Empress Market. He had been paying rent to the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) since 1988.

He told me that shopkeepers were confident they would be given enough time to pack their goods and dismantle the fixtures.

But he got no clear answer from KMC officials, the ones who used to come collect the rent. Contrary to official line, the ‘clean-up’ began without any prior notice, during the dead of the night.

Also read: Where’s Empress Market?

Heavy machinery was used to remove an illegal signboard in Saddar on Friday November 2.—White Star


Amjad’s shop was bulldozed; he lost fixtures worth one million rupees and merchandise to the tune of Rs0.6 million. He hasn’t been allowed to retrieve whatever remains from the rubble.

Arshad, who also used to sell kites, recounted to me how the shovel operator wouldn’t even stop for 30 minutes to allow him to salvage his belongings despite repeated pleas.

Neither compensation nor any alternative location has been offered by the authorities so far.

Rajab, a tea seller, had to lay off four young men who worked at his shop. For Arshad, this is an “economic genocide” of Karachi’s poor.

A tale of official incompetence
What has happened in and around the Empress Market is a tale of incompetent city management. It needs a careful review on many counts.

Around 1,800 shops that existed were, in fact, illegal since they did not operate under any valid lease. Despite that, all the previous mayors expanded the breadth of the market.

The municipal staff were charging rents (between Rs5,000 to Rs8,000 from each shop) without any legal authority.

Read more: The lament of a heritage manager in Pakistan

KMC authorities backed by heavy contingents of police and Rangers brought heavy machinery to the Empress Market on Saturday night.—Urban Resource Center


But since they were being charged and even provided with receipts in certain cases, the shopkeepers considered their installations as ‘legal’.

There is an Empress Market precinct development plan, which will now be implemented. Not only the building shall be renovated, but there will be a new commercial complex and multi-story car park. KMC will put out a call for allotments for these commercial spaces.

Rehabilitate and revitalise
The shops lost recently constituted the collective life of Saddar. The demolitions have come at a time when employment and livelihoods for the poor and lower-middle classes are hard to come by.

KMC would do well by constituting a rehabilitation committee to examine the scale of the loss and devise solutions.

Many professionals and support groups can be invited to join the effort in order to address the grievances of the affected communities

Explore: Karachi — a case study of an unsustainable city

Hawkers at Empress Market during the ongoing operation against encroachments.—Urban Resource Center


As a long-term measure, support can be extended to street hawkers and small shopkeepers, who do not possess the means to purchase or rent expensive spaces in upscale markets.

Insight can be drawn from laws such as the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act of 2014 in India which attempts to safeguard street vendors.

The Empress Market and its precincts still have an important status in the city centre as well as the overall urban space.

Demolished encroachments near Empress Market.—Urban Resource Center


The area needs to be upgraded through an integrated approach. Its use should be retained as a traditional market place with all the necessary frills that made it vibrant and lively.

The structure and space of the market must be restored under the guidance of qualified restoration architects.

Revitalisation of bus terminal space along Preedy Street, parking lots in assorted locations at single/multiple levels, organisation of properly earmarked hawker zones in the front and backyard of the Empress Market should be considered.

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The writer is chairman, Department of Architecture & Planning, NED University, Karachi.

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