JI vows protests over concrete cover on Karachi’s Nehr-e-Khayyam

Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Emir Munim Zafar Khan has announced that protests against construction work on Nehr-e-Khayyam will continue, alleging that the authorities began installing a concrete roof over the waterway without obtaining approval from the City Council.

Speaking to the media outside the Sindh High Court in Karachi, Munim Zafar demanded that the authorities publicly disclose details of the ongoing project, including its scope, approvals and construction plans.

He alleged that the entire Nehr-e-Khayyam was being handed over to what he described as a land-grabbing scheme through illegal subdivisions and encroachments. He also expressed concern over the discharge of sewage into the sea, warning that the ongoing activities could create further environmental problems.

The Jamaat-e-Islami leader questioned the authorities’ approach towards drainage infrastructure, saying that public waterways were first allowed to be encroached upon and then operations were launched to remove those encroachments.

Munim Zafar further claimed that the project had not received the mandatory environmental approval from the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) for covering Nehr-e-Khayyam with a concrete structure.

He insisted that the authorities should clarify whether the required legal and environmental procedures had been followed before starting construction.

Referring to the 1980 master plan, the JI Karachi chief said Nehr-e-Khayyam was originally planned to have a width of 180 feet and a length of one kilometre.

He maintained that the historical dimensions and original purpose of the waterway should be taken into consideration while planning any development work.

Munim Zafar reiterated that Jamaat-e-Islami would continue its protest against the construction until the authorities made the project details public and addressed the concerns raised over its legality and environmental impact.