NAROWAL: As many as 545 shopkeepers were arrested over different violations during a massive anti-encroachment operation in Sialkot district.

The operation against the illegal encroachments in Punjab is underway on the orders of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

Sialkot Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mohammad Zulqarnain Langarial told Dawn on Thursday that a grand operation has been launched against encroachments in all the four tehsils of the district -- Sambrial, Daska, Pasrur and Sialkot, under the supervision of respective assistant commissioners (ACs).

He said that during the operation, 1,152 structures were removed with the help of heavy machinery during the current month, besides 32,346 temporary encroachments.

He said that 752 illegal structures and encroachments have also been sealed on the spot.

The DC said that during the operation, the shopkeepers and businessmen have also been slapped with a total fine of Rs8 million.

He said that special anti-encroachment teams comprising officials of municipal committees (MCs), revenue department, district and traffic police were constituted to conduct the operation at the tehsil level and Sialkot city, where encroachments were causing disruption in traffic flow in the markets.

In Sialkot city, the anti-encroachment operation was conducted in Tehsil Bazaar, Shahabpura, Mujahid Road, Railway Road, Rangpura and other bazaars.

Traffic police’s city circle in charge Khurram Shahzad said that the shopkeepers in the busy markets had also been served warning notices before the operation was launched.

He said during the operation the police have arrested 545 shopkeepers after registering FIRs against them over illegal construction and encroachments, causing hindrance to traffic flow.

He added that the operation would continue under the supervision of the district administration and District Police Officer (DPO) Faisal Shahzad.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2025