KARACHI: Speeding up its drive against encroachments, the anti-encroachment department of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) on Thursday demolished 27 shops constructed on three drains in Shah Faisal Colony.

Officials of the city`s municipal administration said the anti-encroachment campaign was in full swing on the directives of Mayor Wasim Akhtar and several encroachments were removed in different districts of the city.

But residents of Shah Faisal Colony said the KMC had also demolished 150 houses allotted by the Karachi Development Authority (KDA). They said the anti-encroachment staff razed the boundary walls of their houses.

They complained that thepower and gas supply to their houses was disconnected as the KMC staff also smashed the electric and gas meters.

They said they had been without power and gas for the past two days.

The KMC officials said the anti-encroachment operation was carried out near Metropole Hotel and Shah Waliullah Road in District East where all encroachments were removed.

They said that in District East, the anti-encroachment action was taken at Lasbela Chowk where all encroachments from roads and footpaths were removed.

While talking to Dawn, Mayor Wasim Akhtar said that removal of encroachments was essential for maintaining traffic flow on main roads and saving the people from any inconvenience, especially during the month of Ramazan.