MANSEHRA: The owners of shops and plazas situated on both sides of Karakoram Highway have decided not to let the National Highway Authority to demolish their properties without compensating them in advance.

They were speaking at a meeting held here the other day. Landowners belonging to city area attended the meeting and chalked out strategy how to respond to the notices served on them by the NHA and district council regarding demolition of illegal structures on the road.

On the occasion, former MPA Tariq Khan Swati said the NHA shouldn`t demolish the properties built beyond the 44-feet limit on both sides of the highway that belonged to the authority.

`In that case the authority should pay compensation to the landowners according to market rates,` he demanded.

Mr Swati said majority of shops and plaza owners were ready to extend cooperation to the NHA in making the antiencroachment drive a success.

The participants deman-ded that if NHA and other departments didn`t pay them compensation in accordance with market rates then they would not only forcibly stop the anti-encroachment operation, but would also move the court.

Later, a delegation of shop owners met with deputy commissioner Zulfiqar Shah and apprised him of their reservations about the proposed anti-encroachment drive at the KKH.

The deputy commissioner said the government would strictly follow rules and demolish the structures encroaching upon the state land.

He, however, said that the district administration would not create problems for the local residents.

He said that encroachments on KKH were also inconveniencing the people.

Mr Shah said in case the government planned to widen the KKH after removing encroachments from it, then compensation would be paid to landowners.

Mr Shah urged the people to help the local administration to ease traffic mess on the KKH.