KARACHI: For the umpteenth time, city authorities have now announced a fresh citywide crackdown on illegal billboards and hoardings, warning advertisers to bring their illegal structures into compliance with the law or face criminal charges.

The announcement was made at a meeting chaired by Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi at his office.

The meeting was informed that, in the initial citywide survey conducted on the commissioner’s directives, 81 illegal billboards were identified in Central District, 80 in East, 47 in South and 16 in West District, bringing the total to 224.

A previous survey earlier this year identified only 55 billboards — 20 each in South and East, nine in Central and six in Korangi for removal.

Citywide survey identifies 224 illegal hoardings; FIRs to be registered against heads of advertising agencies and officials issuing unlawful permits

Briefing the meeting, Assistant Commissioner General Waqas Abbasi said that the recent survey was conducted to identify violations, ensure compliance and develop a comprehensive strategy to prevent future violations.

Commissioner Naqvi reviewed photographs of individual billboards and explained the specific violations in each case. It was decided that billboards with minor deficiencies would be allowed to remain only if the necessary corrections were made.

He directed all Town Municipal Corporations (TMCs), the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), cantonment boards, other development authorities and advertisers to ensure strict compliance with the relevant laws governing the installation of billboards.

He warned that FIRs would be registered under the Sindh Public Property (Removal of Encroachment) Act against chief executive officers of advertising agencies responsible for violations, as well as officials who had issued permits in violation of the rules.

The meeting was informed that all illegal billboards in the South and East districts would be removed immediately. It was clarified that billboards or hoardings could not be installed on public property.

Public property in this context includes roads, footpaths, road islands and medians, green belts and dividers, roundabouts, pedestrian walkways, drains and their banks, and other public places except pedestrian bridges.

The restrictions apply to all billboards at public locations, including electronic billboards and structures installed at ground level.

The meeting was informed that a zero-tolerance policy had been adopted against all dangerous structures and installations that violate the law, whether erected on public or private property.

Deputy Commissioners Nasrullah Abbasi (East), Javed Nabi Khosa (South), Zulfiqar Memon (West) and Taha Saleem (Central) briefed the meeting on measures being taken in their respective districts.

The meeting also reviewed the establishment of vigilance committees comprising highly qualified and prominent architectural engineers at KMC and all 25 TMCs.

It was informed that notifications had so far been received from 14 TMCs, while steps were being taken to ensure that the remaining 11 implemented the decision immediately.

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2026