Karachi: The city commissioner announced on Friday a strict ‘zero tolerance’ policy for placing chairs, tables, and any form of obstruction on walkways and pavements along roads measuring 100 feet or more. Restaurants and eateries are now explicitly prohibited from encroaching on these areas to ensure pedestrian and vehicular safety.
According to the new standard operating procedures (SOPs), no outdoor seating or obstruction will be allowed on footpaths, service lanes, or road shoulders along major arteries (100 feet or wider).
Eateries located on 60-100 feet commercial roads or streets below 60 feet can continue to use the space but only after obtaining a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the town office and the concerned deputy commissioner, ensuring pedestrian and traffic movement remains unhindered.
To obtain the NOC, eatery owners must submit a formal application to the town municipal office along with their trade license, rental agreement, and an undertaking. A joint verification team, including the town municipal officer, traffic police, and mukhtiarkar, will inspect the site for obstruction, hygiene, and nuisance potential. The recommendation will then be forwarded to the deputy commissioner for conditional approval valid for one year.
Following these SOPs, 255 eateries that were previously sealed for encroaching on pavements and walkways have been allowed to reopen after providing written assurances and affidavits confirming adherence to the new guidelines.
Commissioner Syed Hasan Naqvi emphasized that while these eateries may reopen, continuous monitoring will ensure compliance, and any future encroachments will face strict action. Roads have been categorized into three types under the SOP: zero tolerance (100 feet or more), commercial and secondary (60-100 feet), and neighborhood streets (less than 60 feet). No encroachments will be tolerated on zero tolerance roads under any circumstances.
The SOP framework reflects the city administration’s commitment to restoring orderly public spaces while balancing the operational needs of businesses.
