The Constitutional Bench of the Sindh High Court has ordered the immediate dismantling of an illegal food street operating on a service road in Karachi’s Korangi area.
The court directed the relevant authorities to submit a detailed report on the action taken within two weeks. Several government bodies, including the Ministry of Local Government, the town administrator, the deputy commissioner, and other officials, were named as respondents in the case.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel, Advocate Haseeb Jamali, argued that service roads are critical for maintaining smooth traffic flow and their legal status cannot be changed under any circumstances.
He stated that town administrations have no legal authority to alter the designation of a service road. He further warned that such encroachments increase the risk of traffic accidents and could lead to the loss of human lives.
In response, the town administration submitted written comments claiming that the food street was established as a public facility. According to the administration, the site consists of 144 temporary shops and stalls.
However, the court ruled that any form of commercial activity on a service road is illegal. It ordered the immediate dismantling of the food street and reaffirmed that service roads must remain clear to ensure public safety and traffic movement.