Experts Warn Over Rising Commercialization of Residential Areas in Karachi
Urban planners, civic activists, and residents have raised serious concerns over the growing commercialization of roads and residential neighborhoods in Karachi, warning that the trend is placing increasing pressure on the city’s infrastructure and environment.
The concerns were highlighted during a press conference held at the Karachi Press Club under the banner of the Karachi Citizen Forum.
Participants discussed issues related to urban planning, parking shortages, water supply, sewage systems, and the shrinking availability of open public spaces.
Among those attending the conference were Barrister Shehab Osto, Karachi Citizen Forum Convener Nargis Rehman, urban planners Muhammad Touheed and Zahid Farooq, social activist Shehnaz Ramzi, and PILAP Chairman Saad Amanullah, along with residents from various localities.
Barrister Shehab Osto said that Karachi’s master plan and zoning laws are being ignored, allowing residential areas to be rapidly converted into commercial zones. He added that more than 500 million gallons of untreated sewage are discharged into the sea daily, while sewage treatment plants have remained non-functional for decades.
He also urged the judiciary to pay greater attention to Karachi’s civic issues and called for implementation of the 2019 verdict issued by former Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed.
Urban planner Muhammad Touheed stressed that every road has a limit to how much commercial activity it can support. He said traffic flow, parking capacity, and basic infrastructure must be assessed before declaring any road commercial.
Speakers at the conference warned that uncontrolled commercialization is leading to chaotic urban expansion, with high-rise buildings being developed in residential areas without proper parking facilities or essential civic infrastructure.
The participants demanded stronger measures to protect residential neighborhoods, public safety, urban infrastructure, and environmental standards across the city.
