LAHORE: A joint team comprising representatives of the city district administration, Municipal Corporation of Lahore (MCL) and police has completed a mega anti-encroachment operation at Zaman Park, opening all passages leading to entry/ exit points of the locality and Canal Road (between The Mall and Dharampura).

On the other hand, the Zaman Park’s residents have expressed pleasure over clearance of the locality’s internal roads/passages.

The operation launched late on Friday night continued till afternoon, making the entire Zaman Park, especially the area surrounding the residence of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, his relatives and neighbours ‘trouble-free’.

The heavy machinery was mobilised to the site after the former premier finally gave to the team an access to the locality, enabling it to launch the operation following directions of Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi.

Arteries accessible to residents, motorists; civic agencies start restoring greenbelts, sewerage

The team removed all kinds of camps, extended overhead shades, poles, temporary constructions etc, clearing the internal roads for smooth mobility of the residents.

It also dismantled temporary power supply system, makeshift floors, toilets and other encroachments.

“Thanks God, as [finally] we got rid of the problems in our locality. Hope, the government will not allow them to do so again,” a resident commented while talking to Dawn on Saturday.

“This should have been done since the Day-1 when the PTI workers had started creating encroachments,” he added.

Talking to this reporter, a motorist said he used to be in a state of stress due to severe traffic congestion, blockade and [possible] attacks from the PTI workers.

“I travel on canal road daily, passing Zaman Park and other areas between The Mall and Dharampura. At this particular point (Zaman Park), the PTI workers had set up camps along the road, causing a great deal of inconvenience for motorists. Moreover, I, like others, also used to be fearful of possible attacks from the PTI workers whenever I passed this area,” he said.

When contacted, an official source in the administration told Dawn that after removal of encroachments, the teams of Lahore Waste Management Company, Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) and Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) have launched various works.

“The LWMC workers have started cleaning of all roads while the PHA has begun work on the restoration of greenbelts destroyed allegedly by the workers. Wasa people are checking the underground sewerage system in a bid to ensure a hurdle-free flow and drainage of the waste water,” he said.

According to a senior official of the Punjab government, the core objective behind this operation was to revive Zaman Park’s routine businesses.

“The residents were in deep trouble and they were continuously seeking the departments’ help in this regard,” he maintained.

To a question, he said the government has decided to take immediate and stern action in case the workers try to create such encroachments again. “Now the government wouldn’t put up with such activities (encroachments etc) again in the best public interest,” he warned.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2023