Court Orders Immediate Shutdown of Illegal Food Street in Karachi

The Constitutional Bench of the Sindh High Court has ordered the immediate dismantling of an illegal food street operating on a service road in Karachi’s Korangi area. The court directed relevant authorities to submit a detailed report on the action taken within two weeks. Government bodies named as respondents include the Ministry of Local Government, the town administrator, the deputy commissioner, and other officials.

During the hearing, petitioner’s counsel Advocate Haseeb Jamali argued that service roads are essential for maintaining smooth traffic flow and cannot be legally repurposed for commercial activity. He emphasized that town administrations have no authority to alter the legal status of service roads and warned that encroachments increase the risk of traffic accidents, potentially endangering human lives.

In response, the town administration submitted written comments claiming the food street was established as a public facility, consisting of 144 temporary shops and stalls. However, the court rejected this argument, ruling that any commercial activity on a service road is illegal. The bench ordered the immediate removal of the food street and reaffirmed that service roads must remain clear to ensure public safety and smooth traffic movement.