Karachi(Cliff News)Karachi Citizens Forum held Press Conference and invited people from a cross section of society to express their views on the new laws being announced on the commercialization of residential neighborhoods.Karachi’s public and residential neighborhoods — and citizens’ right to a peaceful living environment within a large city — are under increasing threat as unchecked conversion and land misuse continue under the term “commercialization.” Residents from across Karachi have united to express serious concern over shrinking green spaces, increasing concrete expansion, environmental degradation, traffic congestion, infrastructure overload, and continuing violations of zoning and building regulations through unplanned and often irreversible construction activity.
Citizens argue that commercialization is proceeding without the prerequisite infrastructure, environmental safeguards, or Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) required to support commercial and high-rise activity within residential areas.
Speakers:
- Ms. Nargis Rahman Convenor KCF
- Barrister Shahab Usto Educator and Lawyer
- Mr. Saad Amanullah Khan Chairman Public Interest Law Association of Pakistan PILAP
- Mr. Mohamad Tauheed Director Karachi Urban Lab
- Ms. Shanaz Ramzi Journalist & Activist
- Mr. Zahid Farooq Director Urban Resource Center
- Ms. Rasha Tarek KCF Member and Development Practitioner
& Several Neighborhood Residents
Key Concerns Raised by Residents - Karachi has one of the lowest green-space-to-population ratios in South Asia, far below internationally recommended standards.
- Unchecked conversion and land misuse are increasing noise pollution, traffic congestion, parking pressure, and safety concerns for women, families, and children.
- Conversion of residential land into commercial and high-rise use is accelerating urban heat, flood risk, and long-term environmental degradation.
- Karachi’s sewerage infrastructure is already collapsing under existing pressure. Even moderate rainfall overwhelms drainage systems, while unplanned development continues to merge sewage and storm-water systems, creating severe environmental and technical risks.
5.. Declaring major roads as “commercial” without corresponding infrastructure upgrades will further increase commute times, encroachments, congestion and fuel costs for the public.
6.. Residents are also concerned that the full reasoning and planning rationale behind recent judgments and policy changes have not yet been made publicly accessible.
Citizens’ Demands - Residential neighborhoods must be protected, including their peace, safety, infrastructure, environmental quality and residential character.
- Any change in land use must be accompanied by corresponding infrastructure upgrades, including roads, sewerage, drainage, parking, utilities, and environmental safeguards.
- No commercial conversion within residential areas should proceed without a transparent master plan, meaningful public consultation, Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), and compliance with SEPA requirements.
- Development in Karachi must remain lawful, planned, transparent, and based on meaningful citizen participation rather than imposed at the expense of ordinary residents.
- Large-scale commercialization of major roads cannot function sustainably without prerequisite mass transit systems and supporting urban infrastructure.
6.Residents demand that the complete judgment and planning rationale behind recent commercialization-related decisions be made public.
Call to Action
Karachi Citizens Forum (KCF) urges all Karachiites to raise their voices, share evidence from their neighborhoods, and stand united to protect the city from unchecked land misuse and environmental decline.