Karachi: Shopkeepers protest against DHA's reconstruction of Gizri flyover

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Ahmed Yusuf

Shopkeepers of the Gizri market protested against the alleged initiative of the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) to redesign the Gizri flyover so that the construction stops short of the residential area limits.

Shopkeepers in Gizri started closing their businesses around quarter to two in the afternoon on Monday. Not only were the shutters closed down, but shopkeepers and workers blocked the road to gain the attention of passers-by.

At one point, the protest had the potential to turn violent as one or two tyres were burnt by enraged protesters. However, the quick intervention of both the protest leaders and the police ensured that the incident remained an anomaly in what turned out to be a largely peaceful protest.

The spokesperson for the Gizri Action Committee (GAC) said: “Our main issue is that the decision to redesign the flyover will in effect kill our businesses. Further, the design of the flyover is such that the entrances to a mosque and a school will be blocked, and the ventilation of shops and these buildings will severely be affected as a result of the new design”.

“We fear that as a result of the new design, the safety of our customers and more importantly, that of the residents and workers of the area is at stake. Cars travelling at high speeds on the flyover are a danger to pedestrians around the area, especially children going to school. Further, there will be no parking area left, and it will cause a lot of hassle for shopkeepers and their customers,” they said.

“This is a conspiracy to eradicate our businesses and has been done to appease the residents of two or three houses. We don’t understand that in this day of poverty, why are small and medium businesses being killed off. Our businesses not only serve residents around Gizri, but also the residents around Defence. Our loss is also a loss of the residents of Defence”. Shopkeepers vowed to continue their protest till the matter was resolved.

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