Illegal construction on Karachi's Hill Park ‘plot’ demolished

Published
1
A man looks at the debris lying on a piece of land illegally carved out of Hill Park after anti-encroachment staff demolished the concrete structure and boundary wall in the wee hours of Wednesday.—Fahim Siddiqi / White Star
A man looks at the debris lying on a piece of land illegally carved out of Hill Park after anti-encroachment staff demolished the concrete structure and boundary wall in the wee hours of Wednesday.—Fahim Siddiqi / White Star

KARACHI: An anti-encroachment operation was carried out in Hill Park in the early hours of Wednesday morning in which an illegally constructed boundary wall built on a plot created through “unauthorised cutting of a hillside” was demolished.

Official sources said that the authorities stated that all unlawful structures in the surrounding area were cleared as part of the operation following directives issued by City Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab.

“The action has been conducted by anti-encroachment cell with teams from the land department actively participating in the enforcement drive. The encroached portions around Hill Park were fully removed to restore public land and prevent further illegal occupation,” said an official.

However, residents feared that the construction activity might resume again as the anti-encroachment staff had not razed the illegal construction to the ground.

Official suspended for issuing NOC

A separate administrative action has been taken against deputy director of the land department Muhammad Noman, who has been suspended from service.

According to an official order issued by the human resources department of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, the suspended officer had previously issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for construction activities on the land within the Hill Park vicinity.

“Authorities have decided to proceed with a formal charge sheet against him as part of disciplinary proceedings,” said the official adding that the suspension is linked to irregular approvals that allegedly enabled unauthorised construction activity in the area.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2026

Opinion

Editorial

Kashmir unresolved
Updated 30 Sep, 2026

Kashmir unresolved

The just solution lies in India addressing the issue through a trilateral dialogue involving the legitimate representatives of the Kashmiri people and Pakistan.
Water shortage
30 Sep, 2026

Water shortage

THAT the country is entering the Rabi season with an anticipated water shortage of nearly 25pc, the lowest carryover...
Young hearts
30 Sep, 2026

Young hearts

THE observance may have passed, but the message of World Heart Day should not fade with it. The occasion is a useful...
Terror and politics
Updated 29 Sep, 2026

Terror and politics

There is an urgent need to tone down the rhetoric and tackle terrorism as a collective challenge for both the affected provinces and the federation.
Watching the glaciers
29 Sep, 2026

Watching the glaciers

THE latest signs from Pakistan’s mountains are worrying. Suparco says the number of unfrozen glacial lakes it...
Dangerous agenda
29 Sep, 2026

Dangerous agenda

AS the world remains fixated on the US-Iran conflict, elsewhere in the Middle East, Israel is consolidating its grip...