Karachi: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday issued notices to several respondents following a constitutional petition filed by Altaf Shakoor, Chairman of the Pasban Democratic Party (PDP), challenging the installation of commercial billboards across Karachi.
The petition, which names the province of Sindh through the Secretary of Housing and Town Planning, the Director General of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), the Commissioner of Karachi, the Cantonment Board Karachi, and the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency as respondents, highlights concerns over the installation of billboards on tall poles and high-rise buildings without adequate support.
Shakoor argued that the billboard installations are conducted without a formal policy framework, focusing instead on generating rental income. He pointed to past incidents where billboards and signboards have collapsed, resulting in the loss of lives and property. He referenced previous directives from the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the High Court of Sindh ordering the removal of hazardous billboards, which had been implemented initially but have since lapsed.
With forecasts predicting heavy rains during the upcoming monsoon season, Shakoor expressed concerns about potential fatal incidents due to the collapse of billboards. He noted that many of these installations lack proper maintenance, with rusted poles posing a significant threat during adverse weather conditions.
The petition seeks the immediate removal of billboards from high-rise buildings and poles, along with a directive for the respondents to provide detailed reports on the removal of hazardous billboards from the city.
Following the SHC’s decision to admit the petition, PDP Advocate Khuram Lakhani confirmed that Justices Muhammad Karim Khan Agha and Adnanul Karim Menon heard the case and issued notices to the respondents. Lakhani emphasized the PDP’s commitment, under Shakoor’s leadership, to continue advocating for Karachi’s urban issues.