Karachi: Karachi authorities have decided to remove all illegal billboards, banners, and hoardings installed on public property across the city, following a high-level meeting chaired by Commissioner Syed Hasan Naqvi.
The decision was taken during a meeting attended by deputy commissioners, officials from the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), town municipal administrations, cantonment boards, and representatives of outdoor advertising associations.
Officials said Assistant Commissioner Revenue Sajjad Abro briefed the meeting on court orders from the Supreme Court and High Court regarding illegal outdoor advertising structures, identifying multiple unauthorized billboards, banners, gantries, and hoardings across Karachi.
The commissioner stated that billboards and hoardings installed on public property are illegal and directed relevant departments to take immediate action against violations and those responsible for them.
It was also decided that deputy commissioners, KMC, town municipal administrations, and cantonment boards will ensure strict enforcement of court directives regarding outdoor advertising.
The meeting further agreed that legal action, including cases, will be initiated against concerned officers and advertising agencies found violating court orders.
Authorities also noted that unsafe billboards, banners, hoardings, and gantries installed on private property are also subject to regulation due to safety concerns.
To address this, vigilance committees will be formed in all towns and departments, including experts and architects, to assess the structural safety of advertising installations and identify unsafe structures.
Officials decided that unsafe billboards and hoardings will be removed before the monsoon season to reduce the risk of accidents during heavy rain or strong winds.
The commissioner also directed that safety inspection standards be reviewed and improved, warning that responsibility for any monsoon-related accidents caused by unsafe billboards will lie with the concerned municipal officials, against whom action will be taken.
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