FAISALABAD, Oct 26: Almost all the commercial areas of the city including its famous eight bazaars around the Clock Tower are replete with encroachments and the city district government as well as Town Councils have miserably failed to launch an effective campaign for their removal.

During a survey it was observed that despite Punjab chief minister’s clear instructions to all DCOs for launching anti-encroachment operations no such step had been taken against the menace by the authorities concerned.

The makeshift and cemented encroachments were witnessed in the commercial centres and bazaars where most traders used the space in front of their shops for storage of their merchandise and to display the goods. The practice is obstructing the movement of pedestrians and traffic during the peak hours.

Scores of shopkeepers have rented out footpaths in front of their shops for over Rs5,000 to Rs15,000 per month to the cell phone sellers, jewellry vendors and others.

Kutchery Bazaar, Jhang Bazaar, Bhawana Bazaar, Aminpur Bazaar, Rail Bazaar, Montgomery Bazaar, Karkhana Bazaar, Gole Karyana Bazaar, Fish Market, Satiana Road, Circular Road, Narwala Road, Regal Road and Railway Road are the hub of encroachments.

It was learnt that the Town administration officials were collecting millions of rupees monthly from the encroachers and nobody could do business on a footpath or a road without greasing their palms.

The unauthorized parking of vehicles, mostly owned by traders, in bazaars and shopping centres of the city was also a permanent nuisance for the motorists and pedestrians.

Concerned citizens have demanded the chief minister should order an operation for the removal of encroachments and personally monitor the results.

LICENCES SUSPENDED: The Punjab home secretary has suspended licences of seven cinemas for allegedly promoting obscenity.