Karachi: The Government of Sindh plans to restore all historic architectures and establishments in collaboration with the World Bank, a news source quoted Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. He was talking to Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar on phone.
Shah lauded the work of authorities to remove encroachments from the Empress Market, saying the British era establishment had re-emerged as an outstanding landmark. He also asked the Karachi mayor to involve heritage experts in the restoration task.
He conceded that the restoration of the market was a sensitive task which required the consultation and guidance of heritage experts, adding that sandblasting without any proper guidance would affect the building’s red stone.
The chief minister said he wanted Karachi to be ranked among the best liveable cities, adding that efforts to restore the old city from Pakistan Chowk to Saddar would be expedited.
A two-member bench headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar heard several petitions filed by the traders through their counsels, who maintained that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) had leased the shops to their clients decades ago.
They added that several illegal structures were constructed outside the Empress Market and the shops were not part of the encroachments that were demolished.
The court, while seeking original maps and documents from the shop owners, said that the authorities took action against their establishments because they were allotted illegally.
