Karachi administration to launch crackdown on illegal billboards

KARACHI (Staff Report): The Karachi administration has decided to launch a crackdown on illegal billboards across the city and has given advertisers a 15-day deadline to comply with the law.

Commissioner Karachi Syed Hassan Naqvi issued the directives at a meeting attended by deputy commissioners, KMC, TMAs, cantonment boards and Advertisers Association.

The meeting was told that the initial citywide survey has identified 224 illegal billboards, including 80 in East, 81 in Central, 47 in South and 16 in West.

Naqvi said billboards installed on public property including roads, footpaths, green belts, roundabouts and drains are banned. He said court orders will be implemented in letter and spirit.

He said minor violations will be corrected, while illegal structures will be removed immediately. FIRs will be registered against advertising agencies and officials who issued illegal permits under the Encroachment Act.